Oregon: Four Tribal nations oppose new Coquille Indian Tribe casino project

Four Tribes that are based in Northern California and Oregon, including the Karuk, Cow Creek, Elk Valley and Tolowa Dee-ni’ Tribes, have voiced their opposition regarding the Coquille Indian Tribe’s newest casino project, according to a KATU local news report.

The Tribes recently wrote a letter asking Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Deb Haaland to visit their lands prior to granting the Coquille Tribe an exception to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

The Coquille Indian Tribe is working to open a new casino in Medford, along the South Pacific Highway. For the project to move forward, the Tribe must set up trusts through the DOI for 2.4 acres of land.

Typically, the process involves land close to a Tribe’s reservation. But in this case, the land “is beyond the Coquille Tribe’s reservation by 150 miles while the Karuk’s service area is within 50 miles of the location,” Karuk Tribe Buster Attebery told local news.

Attebery went on to explain the motivation behind sending the DOI a letter.

He commented, “With this project, there was no consultation with any of the tribes in the area. The tribes have had thousands of years of best practices. Why would you not want to consult with the people who live in those areas.

“The economic consequences could be huge. It would devastate our ability to provide healthcare, public safety, social services.”

However, Coquille Tribal Chair Brenda Meade told local news that the Tribe has authorization “to take land into trust for economic development,” according to the Coquille Restoration Act, which Congress passed in 1989.

Meade said the act established a five-county reservation restoration area, including Jackson County where the Tribe plans to build its casino.

Sarah Chen

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