NEWS:  In December 1999, RISE, CBT and the Town of Taos filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Federal District Court to block the use of Federal funds to assist TPE in purchasing the Kachina Lodge without the required environmental impact statement (EIS).  In the February settlement conference, Judge de Giacomo offered a compromise which the plaintiffs agreed to consider, but which the defendants rejected.  The judge briefed tribal members on the difficulties of the project, including the fact that Federal funds cannot be used to support casinos.  After some discussion, the Taos Pueblo Tribal Council voted to terminate the project.

On April 13, 2000, in direct defiance of the Council's resolution and the Governor's authority, Taos Pueblo Enterprises began a media campaign to revive the casino project, including a large advertisement in the local paper and hourly radio announcements.  As is often the case in such situations, the advertisements appear overstate the "benefits" of casino operations and ignore the impacts upon the community.  On April 17, RISE met with Pueblo Governor Don Lighningbow, who stated clearly that the Pueblo government remains firm in its commitment to terminating the deal.   RISE stands firmly behind the Governor and his commitment in this matter. 

Taos Pueblo Enterprises (TPE) has proposed to purchase the Kachina Lodge near the center of the Town of Taos, New Mexico, for the purpose of annexing the property and converting part of the lodge into a casino.  Taos Pueblo currently operates the Taos Mountain Casino on Pueblo lands outside of town.  Allegations have been raised that the real purpose of this project is to demolish the Kachina as part of a plan to establish a four-story luxury casino/resort complex in a part of town surrounded by residential areas, museums, art galleries, bed-and-breakfast establishments, and other local businesses.  Serious questions have also been raised regarding the flow of money through TPE, and concern expressed by Pueblo residents over the fact that only $1,000 of the potential millions of existing casino revenues have been earmarked for education.

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 requires that the impacts of the proposed project be evaluated prior to any Federal decision to proceed.  In July 1999, the Department of Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) released an Environmental Assessment (EA), prepared by Leedhill-Herkenoff under contract to TPE for the Kachina Lodge Project, with minimal opportunity for public involvement.  This EA contains no formal analysis of traffic issues, air quality, socioeconomic effects, environmental justice, and other impacts of the proposed action.

Pueblo residents represented by the Residents in Support of Education (RISE) and residents of the Town of Taos, represented by the Coalition for a Better Taos (CFBT)  have joined together to oppose the establishment of a casino in the heart of town.  This is a grass-roots effort, a cooperative call to action by Pueblo residents and members of the surrounding communities.  The purpose is not to halt gambling on Pueblo lands, or to close the existing casino, but to avoid the serious impacts that would likely result from the placement of such an enterprise in the proposed location.

Government officials contacted via e-mail by several RISE/CFBT members in September include Senators Pete Domenici and Jeff Bingaman; Representatives Udall, Wilson, and Skeen; Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbit; the Interior Department’s Office of the Inspector General; and New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson. Of these, only Senator Bingaman and Representative Udall have replied, and only Mr. Udall seems to be devoting any serious attention to this matter; there has been absolutely NO response from Senator Domenici, Representative Wilson, Representative Skeen, Secretary Babbit, the Interior Department’s Office of the Inspector General, or Governor Johnson!

OPPOSING THE CASINO IS NOT AN ATTEMPT TO DENY OR INFRINGE UPON THE RIGHTS OF NATIVE AMERICANS! The opposition to the casino project is spearheaded by RISE, a group of traditionalist Taos Pueblo residents who have educated themselves on the problems associated with casinos and who wish to use the proceeds of the existing casino to improve education and enhance long-term economic development. RISE opposes the use of funds to promote the new casino as well allowing alcohol to be sold on the Pueblo, and supports the creation of businesses that can offer career advancement, and not just low-wage jobs, to the Pueblo’s residents. CFBT, a citizens group of Taos residents, business owners, and friends of the Pueblo people, have joined with RISE to help fight the project. Both groups are concerned about the negative effects of the Kachina Casino Project on the future of the local economy, both in the Town of Taos and on the Pueblo. Neither group is proposing to close the existing casino operation.

You can help!

Help shine a light on the Kachina Lodge Project.  Click here for sample letters and links to senators, representatives, and other officials whose support is needed in bringing the facts of this project, and the impacts, into the open.

Additional Information

For more information on the Kachina Lodge Project, please follow the following links:

NEW 11/16/99 - Casino Effects

Letters from the Town of Taos raising serious concerns and demanding an EIS.

Council on Environmental Quality NEPA Implementing Regulations

The Impact of a Casino In the Center of Taos - A discussion of the Kachina Lodge Project and associated issues.   This page includes links to other discussions and relevant information.

Taos Pueblo Marches Toward the Kachina - Latest in a series of Horsefly issues on the actions of BIA and Taos Pueblo Enterprises with respect to the casino and related issues.

Kachina Wild Card - A Horsefly article discussing the National Environmental Policy Act as it applies to the Kachina Lodge Project and the inadequacy of the original EA.

Pueblo Bluff Called - A Horsefly article on the breakdown of talks between the Town of Taos and Taos Pueblo on the subject of the casino project.

Casino Project Part III - Article in the August issue of a local Taos newspaper (Geronimo, now renamed The Horsefly) on the history of the casino project and issues surrounding it.

Who's the One-Eyed Jack - A Geronimo article on the progress of the Kachina Lodge Project, including some interesting information on environmental impacts analysis requirements and other legal issues.

A Mountain of Funds - Another Geronimo article on Taos Casino issues from the June issue.

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Last updated 11/26/99.