ECONORTHWEST/CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
Robert Whalen
from
ECONorthwest
directed the
research study for
the tribe’s
economic impact
report.
ECONorthwest, cont’d from page 21
^^Housing occupied by Chinook Winds employees contributes
14.3 percent of all property taxes collected in Lincoln City.
^^The crime rate for all criminal offenses in Oregon was 4 percent
higher in 1995-1998 than in the previous four years. However,
Lincoln City statistics reveal that the crime rate rose at a
lower rate. Crimes against persons fell 21 percent in Lincoln
City since the casino opened.
^^The number of recipients of food stamps and cash welfare
Siletz Tribe Contributes to
Local Organizations
The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians is contributing
$27,755 to several local schools, non-profits, and Native
organizations.
The money for the donations comes from the profits generated
by Chinook Winds in 1998. The funds are being distributed on a
quarterly basis.
“We’re pleased to be able to help these groups accomplish
things they may not otherwise be able to do,” said Delores Pigsley,
chairman of the Siletz Tribe. “It’s important for the tribe to continue
to help the community with these kinds of projects.”
Organizations receiving contributions are as follows:
National Indian Child Welfare Assoc.
Toledo Sports Complex Committee/Booster Club
Siletz School Media Center
Salem-Keizer School Dist.-lndian Educ. Program
Siletz Elementary - Siletz River Day (bus)
Coastal AIDS Network, Inc.
Habitat for Humanity - Yaquina Bay
Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians
Chemawa Indian School
VFW Post 732 - Facility Repair
Siletz Community Boosters
Oregon Coast Aquarium - New Exhibit
Rogue Valley Veterans Pow-Wow
Siletz School - Siletz River Day (books, software)
Toledo Grad Nite Committee
Toledo High School - Data Projector
$1,000
2,500
2,700
2,230
175
800
1,800
500
500
500
5,000
5,000
250
800
1,000
3,000
benefits has declined since the casino opened.
According to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, between
1995 and 1999 there were
> 42 DUI arrests in which a Lincoln City establishment was
identified as the last place to serve an alcoholic beverage to
the driver. Only four bought a drink from Chinook Winds. More
than 90 percent bought their last drink from other establishments
in the city. Twenty-four of the arrested drivers (more than half)
purchased alcohol from an Oregon Lottery video poker retailer
in Lincoln City. (Tribal Councils of all Indian tribes in Oregon
with casinos have decided as a matter of social policy not to
serve alcoholic beverages to customers while they gamble.)
> Contrary to dire predictions about the increased and
unmanageable volume of traffic that would be created by the
casino, Chinook Winds contributed only about 10 percent to
the traffic volume on Highway 101 in 1998. The number of injury
accidents in Lincoln City actually declined. The number of all
vehicle accidents grew exactly at the same rate as the state as
a whole.
I want to express my strong feelings and those of the Tribal
Council on how proud we are to be identified today as a major
economic force in the coastal area. For too long, the Siletz people
have been unfairly viewed as a welfare burden on federal, state,
and local governmental entities. And for too long, Indian gaming
has been unfairly accused of causing social problems. The
ECONorthwest study dispels these myths.
I shall now open the press conference to questions from
the media, public officials and interested citizens.
Charitable Committee Seeks
Requests
The Siletz Tribal Charitable Ad-Hoc Committee has been
established and is looking for donation requests. The deadline
for third-quarter distribution is May 31,2000. The committee will
meet in June to review requests and award donations. Criteria
for contributions is as follows:
(1) Requests will not be given to individuals for sponsorship
(i.e., an individual requesting assistance to attend camp).
(2) Requests must benefit an organization or group (number of
tribal members benefiting will be considered).
(3) Tribal elders activities and tribal youth events will be
considered a priority (Siletz- and Toledo-area schools).
(4) Other charitable contributions may be made for the following
purposes: education, health and social services, the arts,
cultural activities, historical preservation, gambling addiction,
prevention and/or treatment, and activities that promote
economic self-sufficiency.
The requesting organization must agree to allow publicity
after it receives a donation. The committee also will require an
update explaining the results or benefits of the donation.
If you have any questions or would like a “Request for
Charitable Contributions” form, please contact the executive
secretary to Tribal Council at 1 -800-922-1399 or 541 -444-8203.