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Tribe Asks Court To Compel Martinez To Sign Compact

Office of the Governor

An Oklahoma-based American Indian tribe wants New Mexico's highest court to force Gov. Susana Martinez to sign a gambling compact with them.

The Fort Sill Apache Tribe filed documents in state Supreme Court on Friday, arguing that Martinez has ignored requests by its chairman to sign on to existing compacts.

Tribe officials say a new gambling compact being considered in the state Legislature prevents Fort Sill Apaches from being able to sign because their land wasn't held in federal trust status before 1988.

The tribe wants to operate a casino on land in southern New Mexico that was put into trust in 2002.

Governor spokesman Mike Lonergan says the tribe can be eligible after it gets federal permission to game.

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Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.sfnewmexican.com

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