An act of the United States House of Representatives outraged a North Carolina Indian group by passing a bill for the federal acceptance of another group this week. This tribal group has been seeking to get a federal acceptance and casino gambling for over a century, but they have never reached such close to win it.
Bias for all federally accepted tribal group
The act, passed by the House, caused an expeditious reaction among the Cherokee Indians of the Eastern Band. Along with this clan, other tribal groups also became subjected to the challenging procedure of this investigation before they were recognized federally. In a statement, Richard Sneed, the Principal Chief of the Cherokee, expressed his intense frustration.
He explained that the utilization of the congressional authority to avoid and ignore the investigation of some critical questions about the authenticity of the Lumbees was disgraceful bias to the recognized tribal clans. Facts and history must show guideline to the process.
Including the federal assistance for health care, housing, and education, accepting or recognizing a tribal clan may unlock the right to participate in casino gambling in their lands besides all the aspects that are included in the recognition. The Cherokee clan operates two legitimate casinos in North California, and the clan feels that if the US Senate confirms that bill, they can take part in the approaching competition.
The Cherokee group has already felt very distressed by the way how Catawa crossed the line of the state for breaking the ground for another casino resort. This Catawba Indian Nation is based in South Carolina. They circumvented the usual process through legislation that has been brought by the politicians to whom the clan donated a big amount of dollars.
To prevent the advancement, the Cherokee group filed a lawsuit, but another tribal clan is choosing the similar route rather than going through challenging federal process as well as the battles, which the Cherokee has faced. All these issues are like threatening the existence of those tribal clans.
In 1997, in-between Swain and Jackson counties, the Cherokee launched its first casino business and managed to expand several operations, remarkably video poker.
