The Coquille Indian Tribe is interested in building its second gaming site in the Pacific Northwest. Other local Native tribes and Democrats are opposing the tribe’s plan. But the Federal government is ready to allow the Coquille to extend its gaming portfolio.
The First Environmental Impact Statement’s Opposers
The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is expected to disclose the last environmental impact statement (EIS) soon. Some people claim that the bureau will approve The Coquille Tribe’s gaming proposal to develop a casino outside Medford, Oregon. Fox News Digital reported that a few federal review experts believe that this might happen this week.
The BIA released the first EIS in November 2022 and ended its public comment window in February 2023. Bipartisan legislators, certain regional tribes, and individuals criticized the EIS draft which suggested Biden’s administration allow Coquille to construct the Ceasars at Bears Creek Casino.
The Tribe Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations represents 13 Californian Native tribes. It wrote to Brian Newland, the BIA’s Assistant Secretary this month that The Coquille Tribe’s to convert Medford’s free land into trust for a casino while applying the restored lands exception infringes tribal governments’ rights to run gaming properties on their land.
The California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) represents other federally recognized tribes. It also wrote to Newland stating that completing the first EIS would threaten indigenous tribes’ sovereign rights.
The Proposed Gaming Project Is Facing Opposition
The Coquille Indian Tribe first disclosed its plan to develop the casino almost a decade ago. It initially adhered to Obama government policies’ which removed limitations on trust-land purchases and gaming. But critics accuse the federal government for doubling down on the move.
Some lawmakers, CNIGA and the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations are the casino’s key opponents. They claim that it will reduce neighboring Native tribes’ gaming revenue and infringe their rights. Still, the opponents stated that such a decision will allow other tribes to construct casinos near or on other Native tribe’s sovereign land and benefit from it.
The Coquille runs the Mill Casino in North Bend. Therefore, the Cedars at Bear Creek Casino will be its first off-reservation gaming property in Oregon.
California Senator Alex Padilla and Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley wrote a letter in 2022 to Deb Haaland, the Interior Secretary saying that allowing The Coquille to start its casino project would cause conflicts between California and Oregon’s Native tribes. Besides, it would reduce their income hence stalling some essential governmental services.
The casino’s other opponents are Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, Suzanne Bonamici, Earl Blumenauer, Cliff Bentz, Jared Huffman, the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, Karuk, Smith River, Klamath Tribes and the Tolowa Dee-Ni. The Cow Creek stated that its Seven Feathers Casino Resort’s gaming revenue will reduce by 25 percent once the Coquille builds its new casino.
100% up to $3,000 Bonus
Bovada is our most recommended ONLINE CASINO and POKER ROOM for US players with excellent deposit options. Get your 100% signup bonus today.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.