Tribal land dispute over casino development in Alabama goes before appeals court
However, the court has not said when a decision will be made.
A Tribal land dispute over property known as Hickory Ground was recently heard by a US appeals court, according to an Associated Press report. But the court has not yet determined when it will deliver a ruling.
The Muscogee Nation occupied the land in question prior to the Tribe’s removal during the Trail of Tears. Today, Hickory Ground is owned by Alabama’s Poarch Band of Creek Indians.
The land dispute involves plans to build an Alabama casino on what is considered a “sacred site.” The Muscogee Nation has filed an appeal over a previous ruling to dismiss the lawsuit and allow casino construction.
The Muscogee Nation claims that Alabama Tribal officials “broke a legal promise to protect the site when they acquired it with the help of a historic preservation grant and instead excavated the remains of 57 Muscogee ancestors to build a casino.”
Muscogee Principal Chief David Hill told reporters, “This is about more than just a legal battle. This is about our ancestors, our cultural identity and the future of Native rights across the United States.”
However, the Poarch Band says the lawsuit is “an attack on their sovereignty” and says it has worked to preserve much of the grounds.
The Tribe’s attorney Mark Reeves said in a statement, “We firmly believe that protecting Tribal sovereignty is at the heart of this case.
“The idea that any entity, most especially another tribe, would be allowed to assume control over land it does not own is antithetical to Tribal sovereignty and American values.”
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