Band to defy province to open casino

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A band in New Brunswick is going ahead with plans to launch a casino despite objections from the province.

Woodstock Band Chief Len Tomah met with investors Nov. 6 to discuss financing the casino, which is due to open next spring, despite warnings from Provincial Minister of Finance Allan Maher that only the province can license gambling.

"That's a contentious and touchy area as far as the provincial government goes," said band councillor Ray Tomah.

"But our position is that the province does jot have jurisdiction on Indian land. We are a federal responsibility and anything that we do on our land is up to us."

The band has a survey conducted by the Union of New Brunswick Indians that suggests up to 40 per cent of the province's residents favor casinos.

But any gambling facilities not licensed by New Brunswick are illegal, Maher said. The province is the sole authority in authorizing gambling licenses.

Since Indian reserves are in New Brunswick, the province retains the right to decide whether to license on-reserve casinos, he said.

Similar disputes over gaming jurisdiction between Natives and the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan erupted earlier this year. Casinos on the Roseau River Reserve in Manitoba and the White Bear Reserve in Saskatchewan were raided by

RCMP and all gaming machines were seized.

But all Indian nations have the right to their own economies and to decide what they want to do on their land without government interference, Tomah said. The Woodstock are prepared for whatever response the province may have.

"We've been dictated to and governed by everyone else but ourselves."

The casino, which will be located adjacent to the Trans-Canada Highway, is expected to cost a minimum of $5 million just to get up and running. The band cleared the land for the proposed development a year ago.