Duluth to take Fond du Lac band to court

The city of Duluth says it plans to go to court to force the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa to keep sharing revenue from its downtown casino.

The band and the city reached the revenue-sharing deal in 1986, when Duluth allowed the downtown property to become federal Indian land.

Since then, the band has given the city 19 percent of its gross revenue from slot machines. However, the band stopped making those payments about two weeks ago.

Tribal Chairwoman Karen Diver tells the Duluth News Tribune the band finds the agreement "exploitive" and wants to review its legality.

The band paid the city about $7 million last year and $80 million since 1986. The band's casino receives police, fire and public works services from Duluth.

Information from: Duluth News Tribune

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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