The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe could soon get answers to the lingering questions surrounding land sovereignty in its quest to open a resort casino in Taunton.
The federal government, according to a Dec. 31 letter from Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Kevin Washburn, expects to determine early this year whether it has the authority to take land in trust for the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, and anticipates deciding by the end of the month whether the tribe is eligible to operate a gambling facility under the “initial reservation exception” in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
“After an initial review of the Tribe’s application and other applicable documents in the record, we will be directing the Eastern Regional Director to begin processing the Tribe’s application pursuant to this exception,” Washburn wrote in the letter, which was addressed to Cromwell. “The Office of Indian Gaming will complete its final analysis of the applicability of the initial reservation exception in January 2013.”
