Federal Bill Could Pave The Way For Mashpee Wampanoag Casino

Massachusetts Senators Edward Markey and Elizabeth Warren have introduced legislation to reaffirm the Mashpee Wampanoag tribal land, marking another twist in the ongoing saga of a proposed tribal casino in southeastern Massachusetts.

On March 22, S 2628 was introduced by the lawmakers.

At present, the bill does not contain any written text. Nevertheless, the Senate bill shares the identical title (and objective) with a concise resolution, HR 5244, which was recently proposed by Massachusetts Rep. William Keating in the House of Representatives.

The approval of the legislation would address the persistent land trust concerns of the tribe, ultimately facilitating the establishment of the First Light Casino. This casino project is a collaborative effort between the Mashpee Wampanoag and Genting Malaysia.

Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council Chairman Cedric Cromwell expressed his deep gratitude towards Senators (Ed) Markey and (Elizabeth) Warren for their exceptional leadership in championing this bill aimed at safeguarding our ancestral homeland, according to a statement provided to the local press.

The bill serves as additional proof that both the House and Senate of Congress consider it honorable and fair to reaffirm our people’s right to a reservation and guarantee equal treatment under the law for our Tribe, on par with other federally recognized tribes.

If the bill is approved, it would put an end to the ongoing discussion regarding the Mashpee Wampanoag’s capacity to have their land entrusted. Consequently, it would swiftly eliminate the legal obstacles that have been hindering the progress of the casino project.

A rollercoaster ride for the Mashpee Wampanoag

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s fortunes took a turn for the worse when a lawsuit was filed by a group of Taunton residents. This legal action challenged the Department of Interior’s decision in 2015 to place the Tribe’s land in trust, causing chaos to ensue.

Since the Taunton resident emerged victorious in their case, the future of the First Light Casino has remained uncertain.

Since that point, the following events have transpired:

• After the ruling, the tribe promptly carried out two actions. Firstly, it initiated an appeal, which was later withdrawn. Secondly, it requested the Department of the Interior (DOI) to reconsider its application for land in trust, citing alternative reasons.
• The anticipated date for the DOI decision was June 19, 2017, but it was ultimately delayed until June 27.
• The tribe anticipated a negative outcome and thus chose to withdraw its request on June 26, 2017. However, to their surprise, the Department of the Interior (DOI) declined the tribe’s decision to withdraw the request shortly thereafter. Consequently, the DOI independently decided to reopen the case.
• The deadline for submitting all entries for the new case was November 13. The DOI was anticipated to reach a decision within the subsequent days, weeks, or months. However, up until now, no ruling has been provided.
• Meanwhile, the Tribe’s debt continues to grow.

Tribal leadership strongly asserts their capability to construct the casino and remains open to all possibilities, even considering transforming the project into a commercial casino instead of a tribal one. However, if the federal legislation is approved, such a measure may not be required.