Information on the Tribe and Native American Gaming

The Prairie Band Potawatomi's main website is pbpindiantribe.com.

In early 2008 there was an organizational chart at pbpindiantribe.com that showed the Tribal Court reporting to the Tribal Council. This has now been changed; the current link to the Judicial Council describes it as a "separate and independent branch of government".

Mr Steve Ortiz was elected October 10, 2007 as Tribal Chairman. During his campaign, Mr Ortiz made the following statement:

Some look to Shabeynay as a Ace in the hole and it is but with a price tag initially starting out at 25 million to build a Class II facility and progressing to a 250 to 300 million dollar project as presented to General Council awhile back. [emphasis added]

To date the PBPN has only officially acknowledged the "bingo hall" (the $25 million "Class II" facility), but it is clear from this quote that the tribe has a much larger project already planned out. The "bingo" hall is only the foot in the door.

While we're on the topic, here's what now-resigned Tracy Stanhoff had to say about the PBPN's long-term plans:

I will continue to lead our Tribal efforts to: ... pursue the Shab-eh-nay Reservation re-jurisdiction negotiations for the historic complete reacquisition of our lost Reservation.... [emphasis added]

So much for limiting themselves to the 128 acres they purchased. Stanhoff might, however, wish to look up the case of Yankton Sioux Tribe of Indians v. United States, decided by the Supreme Court in 1926, in which the court ruled that "it is impossible, however, to rescind the cession and restore the Indians to their former rights, because the lands have been opened to settlement and large portions of them are now in the possession of innumerable innocent purchasers." This "impossibility" rule has held force ever since in cases where tribes have sought reacquisition of former reservation land through court action.

Both these quotes are part of The Native Blog, written by the late Larry Mitchell.