Quietly at the New Year, Anchorage Mayor Suzanne France issued a letter of support for a proposed Native-operated gambling casino in Eagle River, on land owned by the Eklutna Native village. She wrote it on behalf of all of Anchorage.
LaFrance’s Jan. 3 letter to the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs said it’s the municipality’s official position to support the gambling casino:
“The Municipality of Anchorage values and respects our government-to-government relationship with the Native Village of Eklutna.
“The Native Village of Eklutna’s goal to develop a gaming facility on its land is clearly within its right to facilitate self-sufficiency, self-determination, and economic development under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
“The Native Village of Eklutna has a long history of excellent stewardship of the land and water in the Municipality, including salmon streams, and the project’s Environmental Assessment reflects that, raising no significant concerns.
“The Environmental Assessment also shows the project will create shared economic benefits, including more than 450 jobs during construction that will add $45.8 million to our local economy. Once operating, the project will support 419 workers and generate $67.6 million in economic value. Positive economic spill-over effects would boost surrounding businesses, hotels, and workers.
“We’d like to formally share our support for the Native Village of Eklutna as it exercises its sovereignty and pursues economic development.”
The casino would be the first in Alaska and would open the door to casinos in places that don’t seem like “Indian Country,” such as small parcels of land in Juneau and Craig.
Residents of the Birchwood neighborhood near Peters Creek have filed a lawsuit to stop the casino that has already been given the OK by the National Indian Gaming Commission. They are concerned about traffic and other pressures on their residential neighborhood.
