Federal official advises patience on Indian casinos

Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2000 | 9 a.m.

On Monday, Kevin Gover, the Department of the Interior's assistant secretary for Indian Affairs, supported gaming but cautioned private developers against being too eager.

"We get dozens of applications a year for casinos," said Gover at the Oneida Indian Nation's Turning Stone Casino Resort. "Most of them we tell outright they don't have chance."

According to Gover, Park Place Entertainment's contention that it can get necessary approval to set up a St. Regis Mohawk casino in Montecello within a year is overly optimistic. He also said that the Catskill Development Group's plan to find a new tribe other than the Mohawks for a casino at Monticello Race Way will meet with obstacles.

Gover approved a project proposed by Catskill Development and the Mohawks for the raceway - the only approved this year. But the Mohawks switched to Park Place and ended their relationship with Catskill Development soon after that approval.

"The approval is specific to that site and to that tribe," he said.

Gover, a Pawnee nominated to his post by President Clinton three years ago, came to the Oneida casino and hotel to discuss Indian affairs with other top officials of the BIA.

Earlier this month, Gover made headlines after apologizing for his agency's flawed and destructive Indian policies over the past 175 years.

Keller George, a New York Oneida and president of the 23-tribe United Southern and Eastern Tribes organization, said Gover's apology was one of the most moving speeches he had ever heard.