U.S. attorney, Santee Sioux reach gaming settlement

Friday, Feb. 18, 2005 | 9:34 a.m.

OMAHA, Neb. -- The U.S. attorney's office and the Santee Sioux Tribe have reached an agreement to resolve outstanding issues regarding litigation over gaming on the tribe's reservation in Nebraska.

The settlement was approved Thursday in U.S. District Court, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Michael Heavican.

Litigation had been pending for almost nine years, including three separate appeals to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals and two petitions to the U.S. Supreme Court.

"I believe that this agreement will mark the beginning of an era of prosperity for the Santee Sioux Nation, and I'm hopeful that it will also serve as the foundation of a new cooperative relationship with the federal government," Santee Sioux Chairman Roger Trudell said.

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