CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).
Among other things, our tribal ordinance
provided that ‘the construction and
maintenance of the gaming facility and the
operation of that gaming’ would be in
‘a manner which adequately protects the
environment and the public’s health
and safety.’
“The Chairman of the National Indian
Gaming Commission approved our tribal
ordinance as required by IGRA ... that ...
adequately provided for the protection of
the environment and the public’s health and
safety ... our record on carrying out our
commitment under the provision of the
approved Siletz Tribal gaming ordinance
proves that is the case.”
Chairman Delores Pigsley
Several important events took place
recently and I would like to highlight a few
of them.
Testimony Before
the NIGC
In my testimony before the National
Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC)
in Dulles, Va., on Oct. 25, I concluded
by stating:
“Mr. Chairman, as you know, the Siletz
Tribe has general and specific differences
with the commission over its regulatory
authority under IGRA (Indian Gaming
Regulatory Act). We hope that our specific
concerns can be worked out in an amicable
way. However, our strong disagreement with
the commission over its general scope of
power will remain. Out of that disagreement
arises our strong opposition to this
proposed rule.”
The proposed rule to which I referred
in my testimony would require tribes to
submit to the commission a plan for the
environment, health, and safety of Indian
gaming centers. Although my opposition
was based primarily on the commission’s
regulatory authority, I also objected to the
fact that the proposed rule entailed details
that I said “boggles the imagination.” In
explaining my position, I stated that
“... When we began our tribal gaming
enterprise, the Tribal Council adopted a
tribal gaming ordinance as required by the
Although acknowledging that the
commission has an important role in
overseeing Indian gaming, I expressed the
tribe’s concern that
“... The commission has exhausted its
authority to impose conditions upon the
tribe in approval of its tribal ordinance. We
concede the authority of the commission
to oversee our compliance with the
ordinance and, if we are not in compliance,
to exercise its enforcement authority under
IGRA. But the burden of proof is upon the
commission. It must show that our actions
under our own laws and regulations do not
comply with our commitment under the
approved regulations.”
Our tribe not only has health, safety,
and environmental standards because our
compact mandates it, but more importantly,
because we know it’s in our own self-interest
to have high standards in operating our
gaming enterprise.
For example, based on a yearlong
review of Chinook Winds’ comprehensive
safety manual, the Siletz Gaming Board on
Nov. 19 approved revisions of the manual.
We believe that the effort of NIGC to adopt
the proposed rule is an unnecessary
intrusion into what the Siletz Tribe already
has been seriously addressing.
hopefully nearing resolution. We will keep
you posted on the status of this case.
Salem Property
Ground Breaking
On Oct. 28, I chaired the ground
breaking ceremony for the Siletz Tribe’s 20-
acre property in North Salem where an RV
park and community center are planned.
Although the original plan for
establishing a casino on this site was
unsuccessful, the Tribal Council had the
foresight to keep the property in tribal
ownership. The property, which sits
strategically on I-5, not only has great
economic development potential but has
escalated in value since it was purchased
a few years ago.
The Siletz Tribe was officially notified
on July 11,2000, that the U.S. government
had put the property into federal trust status
for the tribe. I paid tribute to all those who
were involved in the lengthy and difficult
process of having the property put into
trust status.
We are pleased that Mike Swaim, the
mayor of Salem, was present to celebrate
the ground breaking with us. We were
especially pleased with his comments about
the city council’s desire to work
cooperatively with the tribe and help
develop the property.
Housing Transition
Progressing
NIGC’s NOV on the
“Comps” Issue
The plan to replace the current
Housing Authority with a housing committee
under tribal administration is moving
forward. A committee composed of
residents, the Tribal Council, tribal
administration, and HIP (Housing
Improvement Program) is studying what,
exactly, the new housing structure will be
and defining the new entity’s roles and
responsibilities.
Basically, the new structure will have
little, if any, direct affect upon clients/
residents. The quality of service will remain
the same. One difference will be the
handling of issues, in particular regarding
the appeals process, whidh has not yet
been worked out.
As for the Notice of Violation that NIGC
issued against the tribe in June over what
were unsubstantiated allegations of illegal
“comping” by the Tribal Council, the case is
(See Chairman on page 5)
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