Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe opposes planned casino in Lansing

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The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe is one opponent to a Northern Michigan tribe’s plan for construction of a casino in downtown Lansing.

The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa wants to build a $260 million, 279,000-square-foot casino on Michigan Avenue, said Public Relations Director Michelle Bouschor.

“The reason we don’t agree with what they are doing is because they are not following the gaming act,” said Frank Cloutier, public relations director for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. “Also, that was our original land, not theirs.”

The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe has joined together with Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi to rally against the Sault Ste. Marie tribe’s efforts and Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero.

Bouschor said Bernero has supported the cause because of the 1,500 permanent jobs and 700 construction jobs the project could bring to the area.

“We think it’s going to be a great project for the city and tribe,” Bouschor said. “It’s going to bring jobs and tourism to the city. It will also bring a plan for us to provide services such as health care to the Sault Ste. Marie tribe that we’ve had to cut back on.”

The revenue from the casino will also be put toward sending every Lansing School District graduate to college, Bouschor said.

To get the rights to the land, the Sault Ste. Marie tribe must ask the federal government to approve the tribe’s filing of taking the land into a trust.

Cloutier said the new casino will not only cut into the Saginaw Chippewa’s market share, but it will water down a competitive market.

This will decrease the quality of gambling as well as the number of jobs, he said.

“We’re going to continue this fight through the legislation statewide and federal, and how illegal these actions are, and the negative implications it will lead to,” Cloutier said.

Bouschor said the casino they plan to build will be more of a mid-level size with approximately 300 slots and 48 gaming tables.