Alabama-Coushatta Powwows Despite Lawsuit

The 49th annual Alabama-Coushatta Tribe Powwow recently was held near Livingston, Texas. The event celebrates the tribe’s traditions and culture but this year in the background was the state’s efforts to close the tribe’s Naskila Gaming Center. The state attorney general claims the center’s electronic bingo games are illegal gambling machines.

The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas recently held its 49th Powwow near Livingston. Despite the joyful celebration of culture and tradition, the tribe’s legal battle with the state of Texas still cast a pall. The state claims the tribe’s Naskila Gaming Center is illegal because it offers electronic bingo, which is against the law in Texas. The tribe claims the National Indian Gaming Commission had the authority to approve the center in 2016 when the tribe was federally recognized.

Tribal spokesman Carlos Bullock said, “We’re in a lawsuit with the state of Texas. That lawsuit is filed by the Texas attorney general. We are in court right now. But we are going to win when we get to court.”

Bullock noted, “The powwow has been going on for 49 years. And they’ll go on even if Naskila would close. But we’re confident that Naskila is going to remain open because we know that we’re doing everything legally and we’re waiting for our day in court.”

For the time being, Naskila remains open and employs 250 people.

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