The debate surrounding the hotly contested Catawba Indian Nation casino project in Kings Mountain took center stage before a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee on Thursday. The Cherokees are trying to stop the S.C.-based Catawbas from opening their $273 million Two Kings Casino Resort in Kings Mountain, about 30 miles west of Charlotte. CLEVELAND COUNTY, N.C. (WBTV) - Wednesday was a day long in the making for the Catawba Nation tribe of South Carolina as leaders broke ground on land in Kings Mountain to build a new casino resort. Local leaders, attorneys and Catawba Nation Chief William Harris all say the casino is happening - and it’s happening fast. After seven years, the Catawba Indian Nation received approval for a Kings Mountain casino this week. They likely face additional battles over the project as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. After years of on-again, off-again efforts, the Catawba Indians plan to break ground Wednesday on a nearly $300 million casino 35 miles from Charlotte in Kings Mountain.

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The Catawba Nation is reaching into history for its forthcoming, and still controversial, gaming facility on ancestral territory in North Carolina. The Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort draws its name from Catawba Chief King Hagler. During his leadership in the mid-1700s, he allied his nation with the American colonists who revolted against the British at the time of the Revolutionary War. “Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort celebrates our rich history and hopeful future in our ancestral lands in North Carolina – where our people were established hundreds of years ago, as the names Catawba River, Catawba County and Catawba College suggest,” Chief Bill Harris said in a news release on Monday. The logo for the Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort features a silhouette of King Hagler. set against a representation of Kings Mountain. A Revolutionary War battle took place at Kings Mountain, with the Catawbas fighting alongside the colonists. “The name pays tribute to the 18th century Catawba Chief King Hagler and to the City of Kings Mountain, which will be home to the new casino resort. It also symbolizes the unique relationship that the Catawba people have historically had – and will continue to strengthen going forward – with fellow residents of the region,” Harris said. The facility will be located at a 17-acre site near Kings Mountain in Cleveland County. The land falls within the service area that was defined by Congress through a land claim settlement act. The tribe began seeking federal approval to have the parcel placed in trust almost seven years ago. The Trump administration reversed its position on the matter in April after initially telling the Catawbas they couldn't acquire land in North Carolina despite the service area definition. The decision is being fought by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, whose leaders claim the areas as their ancestral territory. The tribe operates two gaming facilities in the western part of North Carolina. The board of commissioners in Buncombe County, located far to the west of Kings Mountain, also opposes the new development. The Catawba Nation, whose headquarters are located across the border in South Carolina, hopes to open the casino in the summer of 2021. A groundbreaking took place on July 22. The first phase of the Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort will include 1,300 electronic gaming machines, table games and restaurants, the tribe said in the news release. Casino gets its official name (The Shelby Star August 28, 2020)
SC indian nation casino opposed by Buncombe; Cherokee say $750M at stake (The Asheville Citizen-Times August 19, 2020)
Leaders break ground on new casino in Kings Mountain (WBTV July 22, 2020) State Sen. Jim Davis and Rep. Joe Sam Queen: Why the Kings Mountain casino is a bad deal for WNC and North Carolina (The Asheville Citizen-Times August 8, 2020) • Withdrawal of Solicitor's Opinion M-37029. 'The Meaning of 'Under Federal Jurisdiction' for Purposes of the Indian Reorganization Act'
• Determining Eligibility for Land-into-Trust in Section 19 of the Indian Reorganization Act
• Procedure for Determining Eligibility for Land-Into-Trust under the First Definition of 'lndian' in Section l9 of the Indian Reorganization Act
• Determining Eligibility for Land-Into-Trust under the First Definition of 'lndian' in Section 19 of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 [PDF 14.6MB]Catawba Nation celebrates after Trump administration changes mind on casino project (March 16, 2020)

Is Kings Mountain Catawba Casino Open

United South and Eastern Tribes: Tribal sovereignty should not be held hostage by Washington politics (March 13, 2020
Trump administration changes course with withdrawal of pro-tribal homelands policy (March 10, 2020)
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe wins major victory in homelands litigation (March 6, 2020)
'Do your job': Tribes slam Trump administration on sovereignty and homelands (February 12, 2020)
Bill Graham: Catawba Nation deserves 'fair shake' under federal law (August 29, 2019)
'Meanspirited': Eastern Cherokee chief responds to attack on his people (June 20, 2019)
Republican U.S. Senator blasts Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians for 'bullying' (June 19, 2019)
Catawba Nation continues to see opposition to casino on homelands (May 21, 2019)
Catawba Nation asks Congress to fulfill promise in land claim settlement (May 3, 2019)

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Catawba Nation homelands bill slated for first hearing on Capitol Hill (April 22, 2019)
Catawba Nation faces more opposition to homelands bill thanks to Eastern Cherokees (April 3, 2019)
Catawba Nation predicts 'huge' economic impact with casino on homelands (March 20, 2019)
'Sad': Catawba Nation fires back after Eastern Cherokees slam homelands bill (March 18, 2019)
Catawba Nation remains in limbo years after submitting casino application (September 7, 2017)
National Indian Gaming Association honors the late Catawba Nation Chief Gilbert Blue (June 15, 2016)
Catawba Nation still waiting for action on casino in North Carolina (January 27, 2016)
BIA said to be planning hearing on Catawba Nation casino bid (11/11)
Opinion: Catawba Nation casino won't benefit local community (08/12)
Editorial: Catawba Nation casino represents jobs and revenues (08/04)
Catawba Nation still waiting for answer on casino land-into-trust (7/31)
Catawba Nation in talks to bring Hard Rock into gaming plans (7/27)
Business owners support Catawba Nation off-reservation casino (02/25)

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Federal review of Catawba Nation off-reservation drags along (02/09)
Pastors continue to rally opposition to Catawba Nation casino (02/05)
Catawba Nation waits for BIA decision on off-reservation casino (01/28)

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Catawba Nation casino opponents meet with BIA officials in DC (12/17)