Quapaw Tribe Acquires Additional Land in Southeast Kansas

The Quapaw Tribe has acquired additional property in southeastern Kansas along the Oklahoma border after gaining approval from the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The tribe has obtained 211 acres of Cherokee County grassland stretching north from Downstream Casino Resort in Quapaw, Oklahoma. The land is now part of the federal Quapaw Tribal Trust, giving the tribe governing authority over the land.

The tribe faced opposition from Kansas officials over concerns the land would be used for gambling.

John Berrey, the chairman of the Quapaw Tribal Business Committee, says the tribe will use the land for agriculture and has no plans to expand its gambling operation.

Berrey also said the property acquisition brings more land that used to be part of the tribe’s reservation back under its ownership.