An Indian tribe is threatening to close highways across its lands in northern New Mexico to protest efforts by a federal prosecutor to shut down Indian gambling casinos.
Pojoaque Pueblo Gov. Jacob Viarrial said Friday that a highway blockade was planned for Jan. 5, but it might be extended to more than one day.Viarrial also raised the possibility that other tribes might follow Pojoaque's example and block more highways across Indian lands.
"All the other tribes in New Mexico are thinking the same thing. I think somebody needs to set an example to show how inconvenient things can be to get around New Mexico if we all close at the same time," said Viarrial.
The state has agreements with tribes for highway rights-of-way across Indian lands.
Gov. Gary Johnson's chief of staff, Lou Gallegos, said he didn't know what actions the state would take in response to the blockade planned by Pojoaque.
"Clearly, we would discourage that approach," said Gallegos. "It's extremely unfortunate that one possible resolution of all this is some disturbance or civil disobedience action."
Viarrial said barricades would be placed across:
- U.S. 285-84, a heavily traveled four-lane road between Santa Fe and Espanola that's a primary corridor for motorists heading to Taos or Chama and other communities in northern New Mexico.
- State highway 502, which goes west from the pueblo to Los Alamos. It's the main road for people traveling between Santa Fe and Los Alamos.
"It's to show our frustration," Viarrial said of the road blockade. "It's to show that we have come to the end of the line. We're backed into a corner. We've become a wounded animal and we need to fight back."
Viarrial disclosed the plan at a news conference at the tribe's casino after announcing that the pueblo wouldn't comply with a request by U.S. Attorney John Kelly to shut down the gambling operation.
Kelly, the top federal prosecutor in New Mexico, has asked tribes to close their casinos by Jan. 15 or face court action that could lead to forfeiture of their gambling equipment. Ten tribes operate casino-style gambling in the state.
Kelly said the casinos are illegal because of a series of state court rulings, which have nullified Indian gambling compacts signed by Johnson and which outlaw all casino and electronic gambling machines in New Mexico.
Friday was the deadline for tribes to notify Kelly whether they planned to close their casinos.
Kelly's office declined comment on Viarrial's announcement or on responses received from other tribal officials. However, most tribes have announced that they'll keep the casinos open.
Kevin Gover, a lawyer for Tesuque Pueblo, said, "There is marked progress in our dealings with the state. If Kelly would back off and let this play out . . . there is an opportunity for a negotiated political resolution, which is obviously the appropriate solution to this situation."
Johnson and legislative leaders met Thursday on the gambling issue but reached no agreement on whether it can be resolved in the Legislature's 30-day session, which convenes Jan. 16. Johnson pledged to push for legislation to expand off-reservation gambling, which would clear a legal path for casinos on Indian lands.
But Viarrial's announcement raised the possibility that more than a political confrontation would occur over the gambling dispute.
Gallegos said he hoped that the highway blockade wouldn't occur and that Viarrial had made the announcement only to dramatize tribal frustration with the federal government.