“We are sorry for any inconvenience and will keep you updated on this website and our Facebook page. Our Northwood staff looks forward to serving you soon! Thank you for your patience,” say the statement published by the gaming facility in its web site.
The federal commission issued the closure order last week, citing “numerous violations” of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, including that tribal gaming “must be conducted by federally recognized leadership, The Bellingham Herald reported.
The current tribal council- Bob Kelly Jr.- isn’t recognized as a legitimate governing body by the Department of the Interior and its Bureau of Indian Affairs
The commission’s order was the latest blow in an ongoing legal battle over the tribe’s decision, under Kelly, in November 2016 to remove 289 people from the Nooksack membership rolls because, the tribal council said, those people didn’t have strong enough blood ties to the tribe and had been erroneously enrolled.