Former Te-Moak Tribe Chairman Felix Ike said he only learned Saturday that the Elko Band was planning to open a dispensary on the colony by April 1.

“We questioned how this whole thing happened and they won’t answer any questions,” he said.

Tribal land is intermingled with City of Elko land. The Upper Indian Colony sits on the north side of Interstate 80, and anyone turning off Ruby Vista Drive into the colony might not even be aware they have left the City of Elko and entered tribal land.

Communication between the tribe and city officials is not as seamless. Tribal governments operate independently from local or state laws.

The State of Nevada has set up a system, however, whereby Indian reservations are authorized to open cannabis dispensaries.

Gov. Steve Sisolak and Gonzales signed a compact on Jan. 23 that allows the tribe to cultivate, process and sell marijuana on Elko Band property. The Band must collect a state sales tax as well as a tribal tax that is equal to at least the state sales tax.

Under the agreement, the tribe is to use proceeds from the tribal tax “for Essential Government Services or Community Social Programs.”