Native Lights Casino Tonkawa Ok
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- 'I am cautiously optimistic that the regulatory framework the Tonkawa Tribe of Oklahoma has put in place will ensure future compliance' with federal laws, Hogen said. His agency on Thursday inspected the tribe's new Native Lights Casino and approved its opening. The casino is on U.S. 77 near the Kansas border.
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Federal regulators said the tribe has made significant strides to avoid such relationships in the future.
An agreement signed Wednesday by tribe President Anthony Street and Phil Hogen, chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission, led to the opening of the tribe's Native Lights Casino north of Newkirk.
That casino features 570 electronic machines and four card tables.
As part of the agreement, the Tonkawas agreed to pay a $1 million fine in five annual installments of $200,000.
However, if the tribe complies with its probation, it can apply $300,000 toward starting or continuing college accounting and auditing programs 'or other gaming-related curricula.' Also, in the final two years, the $200,000 annual fine is reduced to $50,000 and $25,000, respectively, if the tribe stays clean.
Tribe makes changes
Federal regulators ordered the tribe to close its casino near Tonkawa on Feb. 2, more than six years after the tribe was warned that casino manager Edward Street lacked proper credentials.
Federal documents show the tribe was paying Street's company more than the 30 percent of gross profit allowed by law.
Edward Street is the tribal president's brother.
The closure order came as another federal agency prepared to release a report showing Edward Street had allowed organized crime to launder tens of millions of dollars through the casino.
In 2004 alone, $60 million in wagers passed through the metal building's 200-square-foot room for horse racing bets, federal documents revealed.
The tribe agreed to resolve its Bank Secrecy Act violations in that case by paying a $1 million fine. Edward Street agreed to a $1.5 million fine.
The tribe moved quickly to fire Edward Street and his management company, Oakland Enterprises.
In May, the tribe's elected officials fired themselves as the Tonkawa Gaming Commission and hired some nationally respected casino regulators to take their place.
The new gaming commission's lawyer is Nelson Westrin, who until December was one of three commissioners of the National Indian Gaming Commission.
Tribe agrees to comply
In addition to the $1 million fine, the tribe made these concessions to resume casino operations:
Have no association with Edward Street, any company owned by him or a separate company called Peter Wagner Enterprises.
Cannot hire any of Street's former management employees.
Provide documentation showing that tribal bank accounts associated with Street have been closed.
Cancel all contracts that Street negotiated with machine vendors.
Provide audits of the tribe's gaming operations.
Train all casino employees on internal controls and Bank Secrecy Act requirements.
'I am cautiously optimistic that the regulatory framework the Tonkawa Tribe of Oklahoma has put in place will ensure future compliance' with federal laws, Hogen said.
His agency on Thursday inspected the tribe's new Native Lights Casino and approved its opening. The casino is on U.S. 77 near the Kansas border.
The Tonkawa Casino on the tribal complex remains closed.
Tonkawa Tribe of Oklahoma
Tonkawa Tribe of Oklahoma is a federally recognized tribe of Oklahoma with over 700 enrolled tribal members. The Tonkawan tribal reserve is located in Kay County Oklahoma and is headquartered on the west bank of the Chikiaskia River just southeast of the town of Tonkawa.
The Tonkawa was once composed of a number of smaller subset of tribes that lived in a region that extended west from south central Texas and western Oklahoma to eastern New Mexico. The Tonkawa had a distinct language, and their name, as that of the leading tribe, was applied to their linguistic family. They were one of the most warlike tribes during roughly two centuries of conflict with their enemy tribes, the Spanish and, later, American settlers. Their men were famous warriors, and their chiefs bore many scars of battle. The Tonkawa women were also strong physically and vindictive in disposition.
The Tonkawa were nomadic in their habits, moving their tipi villages according to the wishes of the chiefs of the different bands. They planted a few crops, but were mostly known as great hunters, using bows and arrows and spears for weapons, as well as some firearms secured from early Spanish traders. They became skilled riders and owned many good horses in the 18th century. From about 1800, the Tonkawa were allied with the Lipan Apache and were friendly to the Texans and other southern divisions. By 1837, they had for the most part drifted toward the southwestern frontier of Texas and were among the tribes identified in Mexican territory.
The Tonkawa were removed from Fort Griffin, Texas in October 1884 and transported by railroad to a temporary stop at the Sac-Fox Agency near Stroud, Oklahoma. The entire Tribe wintered at the Sac-Fox Agency until spring, then traveled the last 100 miles by wagon in severe spring storms. They reached the Ponca Agency on June 29th, and then finally “Oakland” on June 30th, 1885. This was the Tonkawa “Trail of Tears”. A time in their history that they will never forget. The Tonkawa has changed the date of its annual Pow-Wow to coincide with this historic date, during the last weekend in June.
Native Lights Casino Tonkawa Ok
Today the Tonkawa tribe is a successful self-sustaining nation. It operates a number of businesses which have an incredible economic impact on the members it serves. Along with several smoke shops, the tribe runs the Tonkawa Indian Casino located in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, and the Native Lights Casino in Newkirk, Oklahoma.
Russell Martin (President)
Tel: (580) 628-2561
Fax: (580) 628-2279
1 Rush Buffalo Road
Tonkawa, OK74653-4449
Website: http://www.tonkawatribe.com
The Tonkawa was once composed of a number of smaller subset of tribes that lived in a region that extended west from south central Texas and western Oklahoma to eastern New Mexico. The Tonkawa had a distinct language, and their name, as that of the leading tribe, was applied to their linguistic family. They were one of the most warlike tribes during roughly two centuries of conflict with their enemy tribes, the Spanish and, later, American settlers. Their men were famous warriors, and their chiefs bore many scars of battle. The Tonkawa women were also strong physically and vindictive in disposition.
The Tonkawa were nomadic in their habits, moving their tipi villages according to the wishes of the chiefs of the different bands. They planted a few crops, but were mostly known as great hunters, using bows and arrows and spears for weapons, as well as some firearms secured from early Spanish traders. They became skilled riders and owned many good horses in the 18th century. From about 1800, the Tonkawa were allied with the Lipan Apache and were friendly to the Texans and other southern divisions. By 1837, they had for the most part drifted toward the southwestern frontier of Texas and were among the tribes identified in Mexican territory.
The Tonkawa were removed from Fort Griffin, Texas in October 1884 and transported by railroad to a temporary stop at the Sac-Fox Agency near Stroud, Oklahoma. The entire Tribe wintered at the Sac-Fox Agency until spring, then traveled the last 100 miles by wagon in severe spring storms. They reached the Ponca Agency on June 29th, and then finally “Oakland” on June 30th, 1885. This was the Tonkawa “Trail of Tears”. A time in their history that they will never forget. The Tonkawa has changed the date of its annual Pow-Wow to coincide with this historic date, during the last weekend in June. http://www.tonkawatribe.com/history.html
The Tonkawa Tribe is a federally recognized tribe of Oklahoma. The Tonkawan tribal reserve is located in Kay County Oklahoma and is headquartered on the west bank of the Chikiaskia River just southeast of the town of Tonkawa. http://www.tonkawatribe.com/profile.html
Native Lights Casino Tonkawa Oklahoma
1 Rush Buffalo Road
Tonkawa, OK74653-4449
Tonkawa is a language unrelated to any other known language. The Tonkawa had a distinct language, and their name, as that of the leading tribe, was applied to their linguistic family. The Tonkawa belong to the Tonkawan linguistic family. http://www.tonkawatribe.com/history.html
Current Info:
Today the Tonkawa tribe is a successful self-sustaining nation with over 700 enrolled tribal members. It operates a number of businesses which have an incredible economic impact on the members it serves. Along with several smoke shops, the tribe runs the Tonkawa Indian Casino located in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, and the Native Lights Casino in Newkirk, Oklahoma. The annual Tonkawa Powwow is held annually on the last weekend in June to commemorate the end of the tribe’s own Trail of Tears when the tribe was forcefully removed and relocated from its traditional lands to present-day Oklahoma.
Russell Martin (President)
Tel: (580) 628-2561
Fax: (580) 628-2279
1 Rush Buffalo Road
Tonkawa, OK74653-4449
Website: http://www.tonkawatribe.com
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