Tribal Dispute Over Alabama Casino Intensifies

The Muscogee Nation and Alabama's Poarch Band of Creek Indians are embroiled in a legal dispute over the Wind Creek Casino, built on the Muscogee's ancestral land, Hickory Ground, formerly a ceremonial site and burial ground. The Muscogee Nation claims the Poarch Band excavated the remains of their ancestors without proper historical ties to the site, while the Poarch Band asserts its own ancestral connections and efforts to preserve parts of Hickory Ground. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is set to hear arguments regarding the Muscogee Nation's appeal against a dismissed lawsuit challenging the casino's construction. The ongoing conflict has strained relations between the two tribal nations and deepened feelings of betrayal among the Muscogee people in Oklahoma, who were forcibly relocated during the Trail of Tears. Traditional chief George Thompson lamented the desecration of his ancestors' burial ground, underscoring the emotional weight of the issue. The legal battle highlights the broader implications of colonial history on Indigenous rights and land ownership.