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Lumbees to end contract with Nevada gaming consultant |
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Written by Administrator
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Tuesday, 08 June 2010 |
Lumbees to end contract with Nevada gaming consultant
Jun 04, 2010
A staff report
PEMBROKE - Lumbee tribal officials have agreed to end a controversial contract with a Las Vegas gaming consultant.
The tribe announced through a news release this afternoon that tribal leadership had come to a mutual agreement with Lewin International to terminate the agreement.
Tribal officials could not be reached this evening to discuss the decision.
Tribal leaders had largely declined to talk about the contract, which gave Lewin International exclusive authority to handle the tribe's push for federal recognition in Congress. In exchange for those services, the firm was promised a stake in future Lumbee economic ventures, including gambling.
The contract has stirred passionate protests among tribal members since it was ratified earlier this year.
"We appreciate all that the folks at Lewin International have done to help, but unfortunately the contract itself has become a distraction from our mutual efforts to achieve full federal recognition for the Lumbee tribe," Tribal Chairman Purnell Swett said in a written statement. "We all know that perception is reality up there in Washington. Anything that could take away from our recognition work - whether real or imagined - has to be dealt with."
There are about 50,000 Lumbees, most of whom live in and around Robeson County.
Congress recognized the tribe in 1956 but denied it financial benefits afforded to other native groups. Full recognition would bring the tribe millions of dollars in aid for education, health and child welfare.
A bill awaiting a final vote on the Senate floor specifically denies the tribe authority to operate casinos. The Lewin contract placed a premium on removing the anti-gaming language.
Swett said he will ask for a resolution from the Tribal Council to support the mutually-agreed upon terms for dissolving the agreement, which does not include any penalties on either side.
http://fayobserver.com/articles/2010/06/04/1004272?sac=Hoke |
