Shawnee tribe members visit site of proposed casino in Ohio

BOTKINS, Ohio (AP) _ Members of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma are trying to open a casino in western Ohio. <br/><br/>The tribe says land in southwest Ohio is their ancestral land and they should

Tuesday, July 27th 2004, 9:47 am

By: News On 6

BOTKINS, Ohio (AP) _ Members of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma are trying to open a casino in western Ohio.

The tribe says land in southwest Ohio is their ancestral land and they should be allowed to build a casino there.

Ohio Governor Bob Taft has said he opposes gambling in the state.

Tribe members want to open a gambling operation on 133 acres in Botkin, located about 50 miles north of Dayton.

The town owns 50 of the acres and the tribe is in the process of buying the remaining 83.

The Shawnee tribe was forced to leave Ohio in December 1832 under the Indian Removal Act.

The tribe is expected to present an economic package to the governor's office in about three to five months.

Last night about 300 Botkin residents gathered at the community's high school to hear presentations about the casino. Among them was a group representing Citizens Against Casino Gambling, wearing buttons that said ``no casino.''