February 14, 2006
Casino Connections?
1. State Representatives Raymond Gallison (D-Bristol/Portsmouth), Fausto Anguilla (D-Bristol/Warren), Jan Malik (D-Barrington/Warren), Edwin Pacheco (D-Burrillville/Glocester), and William San Bento (D-North Providence/Pawtucket) have introduced a bill to the Rhode Island House titled a “Joint Resolution Giving State Recognition for the Pokanoket Tribe of the Wampanoag Nation” (House Bill 7236).
2. The Chief of the the Pokanoket Wampanoags has, in the past, expressed an interest in becomming involved in building a casino in Rhode Island. Here is Jim Baron from the March 26, 2002 issue of the Kent County Times…
Asserting that "no single Indian tribe in Rhode Island should enjoy any advantage over the other in their desire to build a casino," two Wampanoag officials say they support a special commission to study gaming in Rhode Island, the same one vigorously resisted by the Narragansett Indians…3. David Nunes, who recently pitched the idea of a casino to the Johnston Town Council, was the ”project manager” for the Aquinnah Wampanoags in their efforts to build a casino on Martha’s Vineyard.Chief Wilfred "Eagle Heart" Greene of the Seaconke Wampanoag Tribe and Chief Linda "Wild Fire" Elderkin-Degnan of The Pokanoket\Wampanoag Federation issued a joint press release Monday in favor of the Fox commission….
Chief Elderkin-Degnan, who called the House study commission "a positive and significant first step in addressing the casino gaming issue," said that the House Finance Committee "has a responsibility to ensure any proposed casino gaming includes all Native American tribes in Rhode Island."
Could it be the Pokanoket Wampanoags who are interested in building the “Being Surrounded by Solid Waste Doesn’t Mean You Can’t Have Good Clean Fun” casino on the site of the Johnston Landfill?
It saddens me that there is still confusion as to who is Pokanoket.
The Pokanoket Tribe of the Wampanoag Nation is anti-gaming and that is the final word.
You can visit our website or call to speak with us but our answer will remain the same.
There is no amount of credibility in someone speaking for another person unless implied authority is given.
When others say this or that it does not mean they speak for the Pokanoket Tribe. There is only one spokesperson and he may be reached by phone or email.
Go to Pokanoket.org and see the truth.
WED
Posted by: The People of Pokanoket at February 16, 2006 6:32 PMGood Comments!
The truth is that whoever wrote this has confused the bill for the "Pokanoket Tribe" with comments made from some other people.
The Bill is not covering the people who are quoted.
This entire post should be pulled and an apology given to the Pokanoket tribe. Is there a moderator on this site???
Anyway, It is good to see the truth about the people that the bill is really for. They are anti-gaming period! That is quite contrary to the norm and should be applauded in this modern day of getting rich quick.
just my two cents...
Posted by: Michael at February 16, 2006 6:49 PMI will confirm the Pokanoket Tribe's position on the issue of gambling and post a top-level update.
Please note that by 8AM this morning I had already posted that the effort to build a casino on the Johnston Landfill was not assoiciated with any Indian tribe.
I do apologize for any confusion regarding current positions on gambling issues that my speculations (backed by sourced quotations) may have caused.
Here we go again. Individuals of hardness of heart and sleezy actions attemting to confuse society. There is only one Pokanoket Tribe and they are based in Bristol,Rhode Island. They are anti-casino. I know because I, Paul A. Weeden was Council President for many years. Other individuals have attemted to misrepresent themselves by misrepresenting to be the Pokanoket. Why is it many individuals who proclaim to be Pokanoket have never given any genealogy documentation to the Pokanoket Federal Acknowledge Office proving that they are indeed Pokanoket or Native American Period. Again there is only one Pokanoket Tribe. How can individuals claim to have a Pokanoket Federation without the Pokanoket Tribe. The thought of becoming rich by owning a casino does many different things to an individual. Ever sincerely, Paul A. Weeden Deerfoot of Pokanoket
Posted by: paul weeden at February 17, 2006 3:04 PM