Janith K. English P.O. Box 171755
P.O. Box
171755
Kansas City Kansas 66117-0755
RE: Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma
Dear Chief English
Thank you for your letter regarding the Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma’s apparent plans to attempt to build a gambling casino in Kansas City, Kan., on lands that probably impringe on the Huron Cemetery.
Let me assure you it is my view and that of the Attorney General’s office that there are no lands in Kansas, other than lands controlled by Kansas’ four federally recognized resident tribes, that qualify as “Indian lands” as defined by the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Without such lands, I am told by the U.S. Department of Interior that it cannot even consider a tribe’s application to operate a Class III gaming facility.
Therefore, until a tribe achieves that threshold, the Governor’s office has no authority whatever even to negotiate a gaming compact with that tribe. In candor, I am doubtful the Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma or any other nonresident tribe will receive the federal approvals necessary to begin the negotiations process with the state. If there ever were, I would then study the particulars to decide whether such negotiations would be in the best interests of our state. The proposed location of the gaming operation would be a primary consideration.
Thanks, again, for your letter. We will monitor this situation closely and look forward to hearing from you as developments warrant.
Sincerely
Bill Graves
Governor