Lac du Flambeau tribal leaders are reviewing their options after federal action blocking a proposed off reservation casino in Southern Wisconsin. The Interior Department has denied the tribe's request for trust status for 20 acres of land in Shullsburg. Trust status was a necessary step for a casino to be located there. One issue raised by the government was distance, with a contention the Shullsburg site was too far for tribal members to benefit from working there, or that they would have to leave the Lac du Flambeau reservation to do so.
Lac du Flambeau president Vicki Doud said she was appalled with the lack of consultation with the tribes, as 11 tribal governments received letters Friday denying requests to put land into trust. She also said the federal government acted on an incomplete application in Lac du Flambeau's case, noting they were waiting for more information from an environmental impact study.
AUDIO: John Burton reports (1:20 MP3)
