The leader of the Oklahoma-based Delaware Tribe says the tribe could pursue a casino in Kansas, but the tribe also has a broader vision of providing services to Native Americans.

In an “open letter to the people of Kansas,” Chief Paula Pechonick said Saturday she wanted to address speculation about the tribe’s plans since it bought 90 acres in North Lawrence.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports the Delaware’s efforts in Kansas have drawn opposition from the federally recognized tribes of Kansas, which all have casinos. The Kansas tribes says if the Delaware open a casino it will cause them economic hardship.

Pechonick says a casino may be a possibility, but the Delaware also want a future in Kansas and an area where it could deliver federal services to Native Americans.
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