It is going to be a big fight for the Little Pine First Nation. The reserve, southeast of Lloydminster, has grand plans to build casinos in Lloydminster and Estevan — but the chief will apparently have to break the law to do it.
Such a move would violate a 25-year gaming agreement between the province and the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations.
That agreement gives sole control and authority over First Nations casinos to the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority.
A spokesman for the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, David Morris, says the Little Pine proposal is a violation of the rules and the law:
“The Criminal Code does have rules related to gaming, and the province has a gaming framework agreement that sets out the rules on how a First Nations casino would operate in the province.”
Morris goes on to say any changes in regulations would have to be negotiated between the province and the FSIN. At a recent chiefs meeting, delegates failed to support the casino plans by Little Pine. Despite this, Little Pine Chief Wayne Semaganis is undeterred:
“No, no, they did not seem receptive — but if you look at the vote at the time, there were a number of chiefs that abstained and that is really a ‘yes’ to the vote.”
The Little Pine First Nation has already bought land for the Lloydminster casino and hotel, and Lloydminster city council has designated the land as an urban reserve.
In Estevan, preliminary talks have begun on a $30-million casino. Residents of the city will vote on it during a non-binding referendum which will be part of the ballot for an April 23 by-election.