Department of Interior disestablishes Mashpee Wampanoag reservation, putting casino in jeopardy
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts was told the Department of Interior ordered its land to be disestablished, threatening the development of a casino.
The tribe’s 321 acres will be taken out of trust, likely putting a halt to plans of constructing a $1bn casino in Taunton.
Tribal Chairman Cedric Cromwell wrote on the tribe’s website: “Today’s action was cruel and it was unnecessary. The Secretary is under no court order to take our land out of trust. He is fully aware that litigation to uphold our status as a tribe eligible for the benefits of the Indian Reorganization Act is ongoing. It begs the question, what is driving our federal trustee’s crusade against our reservation?”
The tribe, which was federally recognized in 2007, received land in trust under the Obama administration in 2016.
In 2018, President Trump’s administration reversed the previous administration’s ruling, arguing that the tribe failed to qualify for land in trust as they were not federally recognized under the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act.
Genting Malaysia had long backed the Taunton casino project, reportedly investing $440m in its development.
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