 Jun 2009 | Gun Lake releases casino logo as high court OKs state/tribal Just a week after the Gun Lake Tribe released its official casino logo, the state Supreme Court ruled against an anti-casino group;s efforts to quash tribal/state gaming compacts, removing what could have been one more challenge to Gun Lake's long-delayed plans to open a gaming and entertainment complex in Wayland County. In a 5 - 2 decision May 31, the Supreme Court ruled against a lawsuit filed by Taxpayers of Michigan Against Casinos, an anti-Indian group, which had argued that the Michigan Legislature had illegally ratified state compacts signed with the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and three other tribes. The compacts, which were signed by former Gov. John Engler, were approved by resolution rather than a House and Senate bill. In addition to the Pokagons' compact, the decision lets stand compacts with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. The Little River Band has a casino in Manistee, and the Little Traverse Bay Bands operate one in Petoskey. The Pokagons broke ground on their $400 million Four Winds Casino Resort development near New Buffalo a year ago, and hope to open in August. TOMAC had argued also that current Gov. Jennifer Granholm could not amend the compacts without a vote of the Legislature. But the court disagreed, reversing a 2005 decision by the Michigan Court of Appeals. The ruling was good news for Gun Lake - the Match-E-Be-Nash-E-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians. The tribe and Granholm signed a tribal/state Class III gaming compact March 9 that could have been challenged if the court had upheld TOMAC's claim. Gun Lake plans a $200 million, 190,000-square-foot casino and entertainment facility with 2,500 slots and 80 gaming tables on 146 acres of tribal land in Bradley in southwestern Michigan. The tribe's efforts have been blocked by Michigan Gambling Opposition, a sister group to TOMAC. In March, a federal court dismissed a lawsuit MichGO filed to try to stop the Interior Department from taking Gun Lake's property into trust. In anticipation of MichGO's promise to appeal the dismissal, the judge issued a ruling blocking Interior from moving forward with its land into trust plans until MichGO's appeal is heard. In a precedent-setting case in 2006, however, the appeals court tossed out an identical appeal filed by TOMAC against the Pokagons - Gun Lake's cousins and neighbors. Gun Lake anticipates the same outcome. "The appellate case will be fully briefed by the end of July and then we'll be in the stand-by pool for the next available date for oral arguments. We hope to have oral arguments in the fall and a decision shortly thereafter," Gun Lake spokesman James Nye said. Meanwhile, the tribe is moving forward with its casino development plans. On May 24, the tribe released the Gun Lake Casino logo - a blue and golden-brown contemporary rendering of a tribal applique design commonly seen on Pottawatomi regalia. The casino logo blends in the four playing card suits - hearts, diamonds, spades and clubs - with a reverse color scheme that is both subtle and fluid. The logo was developed by the tribe and its management partner Station Casinos Inc., and American Indian artist David Shananaquet, who played a key role in drawing and designing the logo for reproduction. "With the help of many great minds we were able to embody what this is all about - a Native-owned casino that will help us regain homelands and preserve our traditional culture while improving our standard of living for the next seven generations to come," tribal Chairman D.K. Sprague said. The Gun Lake Casino will feature Native influences throughout the facility, Sprague said. The tribe anticipates that the facility will directly employ 1,800 people with a total average annual compensation package of $40,000, and provide an additional 3,100 indirect jobs and more than $20 million per year in direct purchases of goods and services from the area's businesses. By Gale Courey Toensing / Indian Country Las Vegas Sun  |
