Community Corner

Aquinnah Tribe Blames Gov. Patrick for Casino Votes

Tribe says Governor's stance is behind defeat in both Freetown and Lakeville

Governor Deval Patrick’s opposition to the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) proposed casino is to blame for the poor voter response in both Lakeville and Freetown according to a statement issued by tribe Chairwoman Cheryl Andrews-Maltais this week.

 “The outcome of the non-binding votes in Freetown and Lakeville was disappointing, but not surprising, given the tight state law timeline, the mounting confusion over the state's process for implementing the gaming law and the uncertainty over what the vote actually means,” Andrews-Maltais said.

The Aquinnah tribe is proposing to build a $167 million casino and hotel on 500 acres of land at the border of Lakeville and Freetown. In non-binding referendums in both towns, voters came out strongly against the casino. Freetown rejected the proposal 954 to 308, and Lakeville voters rejected it 1,735 to 172.

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While there were reports of high voter turn out in both towns, Andrews-Maltais stated that “the Governor’s very public opposition to the Aquinnah Tribe has really discouraged voters from going to the polls, significantly hampering our ability to garner public support for our gaming and entertainment destination resort in Southeastern Massachusetts.”

She also called into question the “real motivation” behind Patrick’s opposition to the Aquinnah casino.

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“Although the Governor claims that his refusal is based on the alleged surrender by the Aquinnah of our right to conduct gaming in the 1983 Settlement Act, the Department of Interior and independent legal experts all agree that federal case law supports the conclusion that any restrictions in the 1983 Settlement Act were superseded by the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and that the Aquinnah, the first federally recognized Indian Tribe in Massachusetts, has as much of a legal right to develop a gaming facility as our more recently recognized relatives.”

Andrews-Maltais asserted that the Governor’s position, “Is not only legally unsupported, it is also morally wrong.”

Andrews-Maltais and tribe lawyers have said they will take whatever actions are necessary including suing the state to block the legislation from being implemented. The tribe has also stated that they are still considering building a Class II gaming facility on tribal land in Aquinnah.

“The Aquinnah Tribe is currently weighing its options and will ultimately take the appropriate steps necessary to protect our rights. We are more determined than ever to pursue a first-class gaming and entertainment enterprise that will provide economic self-sufficiency for Tribal members and an economic benefit to the region as a whole.”

 


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