The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians is pushing once again for a casino to be built in Muskegon County, Michigan. A similar proposal from the Little River Band met its end in the courts in June, however, the Little River Casino operator will attempt to get approval for its second Tribal casino once again.
According to a local Michigan paper, MLive, Little River Band representative Ogema Larry Romanelli said that the US Department of the Interior (DOI) had given the Tribe support for its project. Additionally, Romanelli claimed that approval from the DOI’s Bureau of Indian Affairs would come soon.
The earlier failure wasn’t purely a federal issue, however, it was also a state issue. There remains a land dispute that has caused the issue to remain outstanding, with arguments over who owns the land, near Fruitport township, on which the casino would be built.
During the June court hearing, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer rejected the plan on the grounds that Fruitport township wasn't encompassed in the Little River Band’s reservation. The Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians have laid claim to the same tract of land.
Unlike the Little River Band Nation, the Grand River Band has not received the federal recognition that would allow it to build a casino in this space. Whitmer has indicated that she must wait until the DOI decides on the status of the Great River Band before she rules on this planned casino.
Despite, Romanelli’s optimism, the Muskegon casino project does seem to be on shaky ground. Not only does it entirely rest on the DOI’s decision regarding the Great River Band, but there are an additional three Tribes who have voiced their disapproval of a new casino in the Fruitport township.
