Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe facing off against rival reservation claim
In southeastern Massachusetts and the embattled Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has reportedly encountered yet another obstacle in its plan to bring the $1 billion First Light Resort and Casino to a 321-acre parcel of land on the outskirts of Taunton.
According to a Wednesday report from the Associated Press news service published by ABCNews.com, the tribe of some 3,000 members was federally recognized in 2007 following many decades of effort before having its reservation placed into trust in the waning days of the administration of President Barack Obama. This latter decision purportedly gave the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe the right to build and operate a Las Vegas-style casino resort utilizing an around $500 million loan from Asian operator Genting Malaysia Berhad.
Damaged designs:
However, the Associated Press reported that this proposal was scuppered earlier this year after the United States Department of the Interior unilaterally ‘disestablished’ the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s reservation following the completion of a long-running federal court battle initiated by a group of local residents opposed to the idea of having a large casino on their doorsteps. Things purportedly got even worse for the tribe in July when the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts launched a grand jury investigation into its finances, which subsequently led to last month’s arrest on bribery charges of its long-time but now-ousted Chairman, Cedric Cromwell.
Contentious call:Massachuset Tribe currently has no plans to seek federal recognition but is eager to assert its land claims and has accordingly raised its concerns regarding the Taunton plot with the United States Department of Justice’s Office of Tribal Justice. He purportedly also stated that at least two other Massachusetts tribes have raised similar alarms with the issue even being cited in the federal court challenge to the First Light Resort and Casino.
The leader reportedly told the Associated Press…
“At this time, we are looking to move on all efforts of sustainable and cultural development on our tribal lands. With or without state or federal support.”
Resolute rebuttal:
But, Steven Peters, spokesperson for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, reportedly told the Associated Press that Fisher ‘is well-meaning but very confused’ before going on to assert that both tribes are members of the larger Wampanoag group of peoples who inhabited most of what later became southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He additionally purportedly pronounced that he has invited representatives from the Mattakeeset Massachuset Tribe to review more than 14,000 pages of supporting evidence his tribe submitted as part of the earlier federal land-into-trust process.
In southeastern Massachusetts and the embattled Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has reportedly encountered yet another obstacle in its plan to bring the $1 billion First Light Resort and Casino to a 321-acre parcel of land on the outskirts of Taunton.
According to a Wednesday report from the Associated Press news service published by ABCNews.com, the tribe of some 3,000 members was federally recognized in 2007 following many decades of effort before having its reservation placed into trust in the waning days of the administration of President Barack Obama. This latter decision purportedly gave the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe the right to build and operate a Las Vegas-style casino resort utilizing an around $500 million loan from Asian operator Genting Malaysia Berhad.
Damaged designs: