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Shadowy figures speak volumes about casinos

Gerald Drury Ledyard

Publication: The Day

Published 08/01/2010 12:00 AM
Updated 08/01/2010 05:23 AM

David Collins' column titled "Fighting new tribe from the shadows," published July 25, discussed the appeal filed by a murky group called the Connecticut Coalition for Gaming Jobs to derail the federal recognition prospects of Long Island's Shinnecock Indians. This of course would derail the establishment of a casino there.
This coalition, which is led by third-rate Connecticut politicos, to date has not disclosed its membership or funding sources. It filed the appeal on behalf of the workers at Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods casinos. Both tribes claim to have nothing to do with the group.
This is somewhat reminiscent of a few years ago when several Connecticut politicians of every stripe fought tooth and nail to successfully squash the federal recognition endeavors of the Eastern Pequots and the Schaghticoke tribes. It's obvious who the major beneficiaries of these concerted efforts were.
It is uncertain whether this current group will come clean as to its membership and funding sources. But what these shadowy maneuverings do make certain is that nowadays the driving force for or against federal recognition of particular Indian tribes is the insatiable lust for casino gambling dollars by Indians and nonIndians alike.

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