Utoo Radio with Other News Sources - September 24, 2024 - The Wind Creek Casino and Hotel development in Alabama, is causing conflict with the Muscogee tribe, descendants of the Coosa River tribe.

Although the Poarch Band claims hereditary ties to Hickory Ground, the Muscogee Nation believes they illegally unearthed their relatives' remains to build the $246 million casino. The two tribal nations feel betrayed by this disagreement.

Once one of the greatest Southeast tribal nations, the Muscogee Nation is suing against the establishment of a casino on their historic burial place. In 1980, the Muscogee Nation, one of the largest tribal nations in the Southeast, bought part of Hickory Ground with a historic preservation grant and a 20-year preservation covenant.

The Poarch Band received federal status in 1984 with help from its Oklahoma relatives, but land development disputes ensued.

The Poarch Band hired Auburn University archaeologists to excavate and analyze the land. The towering resort, one of the Poarch Band's casinos in Alabama and elsewhere, opened in 2013.

Muscogee Nation claims 57 sets of bones were removed during excavation, although the tribe has never received a comprehensive inventory from the Poarch Band or Auburn University.

The Poarch Band supports Alabama Congressman Jerry Carl's effort to circumvent a 2009 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that only tribes with federal recognition by 1934 could put land into trust for tribal use, such as casinos.

The fight over Hickory Ground has angered tribe members in Oklahoma, where “Poarch” is a terrible word.