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[forwarded by Pat Morris. Thanks...]

http://www.azstarnet.com/public/dnews/LD0587.html
Thursday, 27 January 2000

Navajo council votes to amend code to consider gambling

WINDOW ROCK (AP) - Despite two voter rejections of gambling
and a veto by the tribal president, the Navajo Nation's
legislative council again approved an economic window for
reservation gambling.

Yesterday, the council voted 46-27 to amend the tribe's
criminal code to allow the nation to consider gaming
initiatives.

Since the code made casino-style gaming a crime within the
Navajo Nation, such initiatives couldn't be considered unless
the law was changed.

``We will merely provide the means, a `window of opportunity'
to begin when the day comes to implement the process of gaming
as an economic initiative by the Navajo Nation,'' said council
Delegate Richard T. Begay Jr. of Two Grey Hills, who sponsored
the resolution.

``Any concerns regarding the implementation process, legal
issues, intergovernmental agreements-compacts, rules and
regulations can be addressed at your discretion,'' he told
fellow legislators.

Navajo voters rejected reservation gambling in 1994 and 1997,
and President Kelsey Begaye vetoed a similar gambling resolution
in August.

Meanwhile, the Canoncito Navajos, whose community is near
Albuquerque, pressed for tribal permission to build a casino
on their land. Leaders said they might try to break away if
they are rejected.

Begay said the president agreed that an amendment such as the
council approved would be necessary if gaming were to be
considered as an economic initiative. He said Begaye told him
that gaming was part of the president's plan to generate
additional tribal revenue.

Begaye couldn't be reached for comment late yesterday. In the
previous resolution veto, he had said that ``this administration
does not support gaming on the reservation,'' in part because
of the previous voter decisions.

Begay argued yesterday that ``our nation needs to embark on
gaming for the sake of economic purposes.''

``We cannot be ignorant of the fact that our nation is approaching
a crossroads of new generation and the new millennium with new
ideals, and we must prepared to accept them,'' he said.

Opponents expressed concern about Begaye's apparent about-face,
about the previous voter rejections and about sovereignty issues.

``The almighty dollar has become more important than
sovereignty,'' said Delegate Freddie Howard of Birdsprings-Tolani
Lake. Howard argued that in negotiating gambling compacts with
Arizona, Utah and New Mexico as would be required by federal law,
the tribe would be forfeiting a portion of its sovereignty.
 

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