Eklutna Tribe Stops Birchwood Casino Expansion Due to Federal Policy Change

The Native Village of Eklutna has suspended construction of a major tribal casino north of Anchorage. This decision comes after the Trump administration canceled a federal legal opinion that had expanded tribal control over Alaska Native allotments. 

Tribe Seeks Answers on Rights Before Resuming Birchwood Casino Construction

The tribe had started to clear land to build the Chin’an Gaming Hall in Birchwood. Now, they must reevaluate if they can continue to construct what many expected to become the region’s first permanent casino, reported Anchorage Daily News.

The tribe had plans to build a 58,000-square-foot venue with hundreds of slot machines and several eateries. They wanted to construct it near the local airport just off Birchwood Spur Road, to replace their temporary casino that opened in January. This makeshift setup, consisting of linked prefab units, will stay open as the tribe looks into its legal standing.

Aaron Leggett, who leads Eklutna, said tribal chiefs want to get a better understanding from federal agencies after Kate MacGregor, the Deputy Interior Secretary, issued a directive on September 25. Her memo canceled a 2024 Interior Department ruling made during Biden’s time in office, which had accepted tribal control over specific Native allotments in Alaska. The change tells federal gaming regulators to take another look at earlier approvals based on the now-canceled interpretation.

Leggett said the tribe aims to finish the project but needs to know how the new rule affects its rights, adding that building would start again after the federal guidelines become clear.

Federal Reversal Rekindles Debate Over Tribal Land Authority in Alaska

The ruling has sparked old arguments about tribal control over land in Alaska. Alaska is different from most states because it does not have big reservations. This is due to the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, which got rid of reservations and set up regional and village corporations instead. People who work for the state say this setup restricts what tribes can do. However, many Native leaders argue that individual pieces of land still count as tribal lands under federal law.

Alaska welcomed the Interior Department’s change of heart. The state had sued over the 2024 opinion, saying it cut state control. The Department of Law thought the new order could help end ongoing court cases and make jurisdictional lines clearer. In Birchwood, local groups against the casino have their own lawsuit. They see this latest news as a move toward stopping the project for good.

Even with all this up in the air, the Chin’an Gaming Hall keeps busy. Ryan Walker, who runs the place, said about 30 people work at the temporary spot. It pulls in players from Anchorage and the Mat-Su area. Tribal leaders stress that money from gaming is key to funding housing, education, and programs to build up the community.Leggett emphasized that the project goes beyond just a casino: it paves the way for Eklutna citizens to become more self-reliant.