The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians is hoping to negotiate with the Cherokee Nation to keep the Keetoowahs' Tahlequah casino open.
The Tulsa World reports that the Keetoowah Council voted to enter negotiations with the Cherokees to sign over the land to the Cherokee Nation — which would then lease it back to the Keetoowahs to keep the casino open.
The Keetoowahs are hoping to avoid a deadline that would cause the casino to shut down on Friday.
The deal could give ownership of the land to the Cherokee Nation, which would then put the land into trust with the federal government. That option could save about 150 casino jobs within the Keetoowah government, tribal officials say.
