LAC DU FLAMBEAU, Wis. (WPR) The president of the Lac du Flambeau Tribe says they’ll still push on with a multi-million dollar casino project, despite the sale of a large boat intended for the venture.

Carl Edwards acknowledges that a corporation the tribe has shares in sold the river boat recently.  Lac du Flambeau leaders had reportedly sunk nearly $8 million on it to launch an off-shore casino in Mississippi, but Edwards says its loss won’t set back their plans. He says the tribe didn’t agree to sell the boat, and they are looking at a land-based casino in Mississippi that would have to be approved by the full tribal council. Edwards says money for the land-based casino would have to come from other investors as the tribe has agreed not to give any more money for that project. 

Edwards says those other investors include Big River Enterprises and a hotel chain.

Some tribal members have pointed to the river boat casino project as proof of financial mismanagement by Lac du Flambeau leaders.  Protests have included a brief occupation of tribal offices in March of 2008.   Tribal leaders deny any wrongdoing. 

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Information from Wisconsin Public Radio, www.wpr.org