The land consists of 170 acres in mashpee and 151 acres near east tonton, and the tribe has excellent plans for the acres near east tonton.
Easton’s residents have legally challenged the tribe because they are not excited that they are planning to build a large resort and casino so close to it, and a federal court blocked the entire process last year. The Home Office’s opinion was expected to be publicly announced this Tuesday, but the tribe has publicly announced it no longer wants it. They say they will appeal federal court ruling after consulting with the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Lawyer Jonathan Witten said that only tribes recognized before 1934 could be trusted. In the context of the Marshfi Wampanoag tribe, it was not recognized , which made it unclear whether India’s decision could be challenged in court. For tribal members, this was an example of depriving them of the opportunity to fully express their identity as a sovereign state.
The project is still being planned under the name of First Light Resort & Casino, and construction is scheduled to begin. The $500 million resort casino has the potential to solidify the tribe’s social position and preserve its unique culture. Their proposed project includes three hotels, an event center, a water park and a variety of restaurant and retail options, backed by Malaysian casino resort investor Arkana Ltd., which has close ties to Genting Group.
The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe signed a seven-year contract with casino operator Genting Malaysia, but due to the complicated situation, the Mashpe Wampanoag tribe’s gaming authority warned investors that they could lose $274 million in promissory note investments. The Mashpe Wampanoag Tribal Game Authority issues these bills, but the operator also expects interest income on these bills to reach nearly $25 million.