Press release from The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians:
“We are disappointed by not surprised by the Department of Interior’s approval of the Catawba’s compact with North Carolina. This approval stems from the DOI’s original illegal act to take land into trust and force an unwanted casino on North Carolina, a decision that we continue to challenge in federal court. We believe the facts are clear and that the court will invalidate this illegal casino and along with it, this compact.”
Background Info
Eastern Band of Cherokee v. Department of Interior
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and Cherokee Nation filed a federal lawsuit in an attempt to reverse the US Department of the Interior decision granting a request by the Catawba Indian Nation to place land into trust for the purposes of building a casino in North Carolina. The EBCI argues that the Department of Interior ignored and violated numerous law and rules the clearly, directly and explicitly prohibit such action, including the Administrative Procedures Act, National Environmental Protection Act and the National Historic Preservation Act. The case is pending in federal court. In December 2020, Judge James Boasberg granted an EBCI request for expediting oral arguments which are now expected to be held next month.
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