A group of Anchorage-area residents has filed a lawsuit challenging the Native Village of Eklutna's (NVE) authority to build a casino, claiming the tribe lacks proper federal recognition for gaming operations.

The lawsuit contests NVE's status as a federally recognized tribe with self-governing powers, potentially invalidating the National Indian Gaming Commission's (NIGC) recent casino approval. Residents cite concerns about increased crime, traffic congestion, and environmental impact.

NVE has long sought to establish an electronic bingo hall 20 miles outside Anchorage. Their efforts were previously hindered by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), which classified Alaska tribes as private corporations rather than sovereign nations.

The legal landscape shifted in 2013 when the US Interior Department ruled that ANCSA doesn't prevent putting land into trust for Alaska Natives. While this led to NIGC's approval, the tribe still awaits final authorization from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).

The plaintiffs argue that NVE's federal recognition, granted in 1993 by then-Assistant Secretary Ada Deer through a Federal Register listing, was illegitimate as it lacked congressional approval. They contend the land in question is an "allotment" under ANCSA rather than "Indian land" as defined by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).

Currently, Alaska has only three Native bingo halls, all in the southwest region, operated by tribes that either opted out of ANCSA or received special approval under previous administrations.

NVE president Aaron Leggett dismissed the lawsuit's premise, stating that courts have repeatedly rejected claims denying the existence of Alaska tribes. Despite the legal challenge, the tribe has begun clearing land in anticipation of construction.

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