Indian tribe looking at west Louisiana for casino

Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2000 | 9:15 a.m.

State officials, however, say no agreement is imminent since the Jena Band of Choctaws has yet to conclude a compact with the governor's office. The compact, which spells out each side's commitments, is required before the Jena Band selects a plot of land as their own.

"The Jena Band has come to us with a desire to ultimately have a compact, because they are interested in gaming," said Patrick Martin, assistant executive counsel to the governor. "To have gaming, you must have a compact. And there is an obligation on the part of the state to negotiate (the compact) in good faith."

Sabine River Authority Chairman Aubrey Temple said while the Jena Band has expressed interest in the lake area, the SRA - the lake's governing body - does not have a proposal in writing.

"The SRA is not in any negotiations with anyone concerning the availability of property with the Native Americans and, if we do it, would require public involvement," Temple said.

Still, SRA Executive Director Linda Curtis-Sparks said she has been asked to identify tracts of available land in Sabine and DeSoto parishes. The SRA often assists business developers in locating property, she added.

The Jena Band was unsuccessful two years ago in getting approval from the Natchitoches Parish Police Jury for a casino, theme park and golf course in that parish. Jurors voted against the measure because of public opposition.

One possible Toledo Bend location is the multimillion dollar Cypress Bend Golf Resort and Conference Center, located just south of the Pendleton Bridge. It features an 18-hole golf course, hotel and conference center nestled on the lake's shores.

The Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, a separate American Indian tribe that owns a land-based casino in Kinder, owns 35 percent of the Cypress Bend complex. The Coushatta Tribe invested $1.26 million in the $3.5 million hotel built by Houston-based American Liberty Hospitality Inc.

Jena Band Chief Sheryl Smith would not disclose specifics of the tribe's planned development.

"There are a lot of people wanting the Jenas to come to a lot of different communities. Several have proposed land," Smith said. "There a lot of things we can do besides gaming."

In theory, the Jena Band could locate "just about anywhere in the state," Martin said. Once a compact is signed, the Jena Band would then apply to the U.S. Department of Interior, which oversees Indian Affairs, to have its land placed in trust and ultimately declared a reservation making it a sovereign nation.