Gabe Galanda was quoted this morning in a Boston public radio story, Big Hurdles Remain For Mashpee Wampanoag Taunton Casino, regarding the Mashpee Wampanoag's efforts to have land taken into trust for purposes of gaming.
[Y]ou’ll remember that the Masphee became federally recognized as at tribe, officially, a few years ago. So thanks to [Carcieri], right now, the Mashpee can’t turn that land in Taunton into tribal land, which means they can’t build a casino on it.
I spoke with Gabe Galanda, he’s an expert in tribal law:
I think the situation they’re in is tragic. The state and local support of the tribe certainly does not hurt them. But the Secretary of the Interior remains without legal authority to take that land into trust.
That sounds pretty definitive.
Gabriel "Gabe" Galanda is a partner at Galanda Broadman PLLC, of Seattle, an American Indian owned law firm. He is an enrolled member of the Round Valley Indian Tribes of Covelo, California. Gabe assists tribal governments and businesses in all matters of tribal economic development, including gaming. Gabe can be reached at 206.691.3631 or gabe@galandabroadman.com.
