The Tohono O'odham Nation is a federally-recognized tribe that includes approximately 28,000 members occupying tribal lands in south-western Arizona. The division of O'odham lands has resulted in an artificial division of O'odham society. O'odham bands are now broken up into 4 federally recognized tribes: the Tohono O'odham Nation, the Gila River Indian Community, the Ak-Chin Indian Community and the Salt River (Pima Maricopa) Indian community. A fifth tribe, the Hia-C'ed O'odham, are not federally recognized, but reside throughout southwestern Arizona.

At the end of January it was reported that the O’odham Nation planned to develop a large casino resort and convention centre near the West Valley sports complex on a site adjacent to Glendale and Peoria, with the creation of up to 6,000 jobs. The US$600 million West Valley Resort would be the tribe’s fourth casino, and the largest. The O’odham Nation believes the new casino would boost visitor numbers to the area, attracting 1.2 million people.

However, not everyone views the proposed development in the same optimistic light. Peoria officials are broadly in favour but last Tuesday Glendale City Council voted to adopt a resolution opposing the casino, stating that removing the land from all state and local regulatory control and converting the property to an Indian Reservation, where one has never existed, presents very significant issues for the citizens and business owners of Glendale.

The tribe still need federal approval for their project. The 134 acre plot, bought with compensation money for the flooding of tribal lands by construction of the Painted Rock Dam, must be designated as tribal reservation land and put into a federal trust. The often lengthy process may be aided by the fact that the land in question is a replacement for land lost. Should the tribe be successful, the West Valley Resort is not expected to be operational before 2012. (E-04.14.09)

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