According to a report from AL.com, the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians might be one step closer to gaining the ability to host casino gambling. It has been four decades since the group began the long journey to gain federal sovereignty designation that would allow them to access millions of dollars, including hosting casino gambling. In the same report, U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, a Democratic lawmaker in the U.S. House, whose efforts first began in the 1980s, was highlighted as being the key piece in passing the new legislation through. Shelby’s role could, according to some other federal tribes, be a key factor in allowing the MOWA tribe to become the second in Alabama to gain federal recognition.
For this article, SBS will be going over the latest news from Alabama and also some other facts and information about gaming in the Cotton State.
According to AL.com, with Shelby’s retirement a few weeks away, hundreds of federally recognized Native American tribes are now worried the master strategist has one final political trick up his sleeve. Some fear that Shelby has the political clout to upend the long traditions of tribes gaining federal recognition through an expert-led process overseen by the U.S. Department of Interior. Moreover, as pointed out in the report, the recognition could kickstart the prospects of Indian gaming in Mobile or Washington counties similar to what exists on federal trust land for the Poarch Creeks in Atmore, Wetumpka, and Montgomery.
In the past, Shelby has called the MOWA’s efforts a “long shot” but one that could happen during the waning days of the current lame-duck session that will end before Christmas of this year. Per the report, he also thinks the group should “be a tribe” and that they have proved they are, even with politics involved. The people who have federal recognition have also shown they do not want to share with others. This, as Shelby points out, is human nature and they are blocking others from gaining federal recognition.
The Senator, who has long supported the MOWA’s efforts, is sponsoring legislation to grant a federal designation to the tribe that is largely based on 300 acres of land west of Mount Vernon. About the 5,000 people who claim to be MOWA live in Alabama, according to tribal chief Lebaron Byrd. Some reports estimate that the total membership is between 6,000 to 7,000. However, to the 141 tribes opposed to the legislation, the fear is that federal lawmakers will circumvent the traditional recognition process through the Interior Department’s Bureau of Indian Affairs by sliding into a federal spending package.
Shelby is a ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, considered among the most powerful committees with enormous power to authorize federal spending priorities. Federal recognition through congressional approval is viewed as a last-ditch effort and it is likely the only tool remaining for the MOWA tribe that has come up short in its applications before the Bureau of Indian Affairs. One member of an opposing Native American tribe has said that MOWA has not demonstrated that their members are even of native ancestry, let alone meet the standards to qualify as a historical sovereign tribal government.
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About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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