Delaware Indians may seek gambling rights in Pennsylvania

<br>(Undated-AP) -- Two American Indian tribes say they plan to pursue gambling rights in Pennsylvania. They are claiming ancestral ties to land that's now occupied by the Crayola crayon factory and

Wednesday, May 14th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Undated-AP) -- Two American Indian tribes say they plan to pursue gambling rights in Pennsylvania. They are claiming ancestral ties to land that's now occupied by the Crayola crayon factory and about 25 homes in the Lehigh Valley.

The Delaware Indian tribes have about 12-thousand members in all, but a spokesman says none is living in the state.

The Delaware Nation of Anadarko, Oklahoma, and the Delaware Tribe of Indians of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, say they will stake claims to a 315-acre parcel of land in Northampton Township, just north of Easton.

If a federal court approves their claim, their lawyer, Stephen Cozen of Philadelphia says, they would use the land, or what they call ``a suitable alternative,'' as their basis for establishing their right to pursue some sort of gambling in the state.

Pennsylvania does not currently have any Indian gambling ventures.