Chinook Winds gives to local community in the spirit of the season
Sharing with others is a time-honored
tradition at the very heart of Tribal culture
for the Confederated Tribes of Siletz
Indians, owners of Chinook Winds Casino
Resort. This philosophy is put into prac
tice within the local community.
Although according to Tribal cus
tom it is unseemly to be boastful, at this
time of the year it’s good for people to
know the spirit of the season is alive and
well, especially during these hard eco
nomic times.
Every December, the casino and its
associated properties participate in “giv
ing” activities that help provide for those
in need within the community. This year
is no different.
In conjunction with the North Lincoln
Fire & Rescue Volunteer Christmas Toy
Drive, the Chinook Winds Bingo Depart
ment collected 208 toys for children of
the community.
“The response of the staff and our
guests has been tremendous. This year’s
contribution was the largest we have
ever seen,” said Bingo Manager Chad
McCormick.
A giving tree located near the en
trance to the Bingo Hall in the casino and
another in the lobby of the administrative
offices were trimmed with tags listing the
needs or wishes of area children. As in
years past, all 117 tags on these trees list
ing items for families and foster children
were filled in time for the holidays.
This year, Chinook Winds Casino
answered the call to assist with the com
munity Christmas dinner known as Opera
tion Christmas Spirit. In previous years,
Chinook Winds has provided food but this
year staff volunteered to take care of the
scheduling and cooking, plus the casino
provided all of the food with the exception
of the desserts.
The staff at Chinook Winds also
volunteered to help distribute more than
23 boxes of toys collected by the Lincoln
City Dollar Tree store. Among those
organizations receiving these were Siletz
Tribal Community Children’s Party, Siletz
VFW Christmas dinner, BAM A - Miracle
on 51st Street, Lincoln City Kiwanis
Club, Oregon National Guard Family
Christmas, Depoe Bay Fire Department
Toy Drive, Depoe Bay Elks Christmas,
Lincoln City Food Pantry, Operation
Christmas Spirit, North Lincoln Fire &
Rescue, Lincoln City Elks and Lincoln
City Eagles for Christmas baskets.
The Siletz Tribe gives a percentage
of its net profits to charity each year as
part of the compact between the state and
the Tribe. Chinook Winds Casino Resort
makes a large contribution each year in
addition to the grants given out by the
Tribe simply because giving is at the core
of the American Indian way of life.
Rather than choose one or two chari
ties to support, the philosophy on giving
is to support as many organizations as
possible in their endeavors, providing
assistance in reaching their individual
goals or fulfilling their need.
Overall, the Tribe has honored its
tradition of sharing within the community
by distributing more than $8.6 million
through the charitable fund and other
Tribal resources. Chinook Winds has
donated more than $1.8 million in cash
and fund-raising items since it opened in
1995. The casino also provides in-kind
donations of convention space for various
fund-raisers as well as technical support,
advertising and manpower for many com
munity events.
Courtesy photos from Chinook Winds staff
Tami Haines, Debbie Perkins and Julie Rhoades from the Lincoln County Child
Welfare Department accept Christmas gifts for children in foster care from Chinook
Winds Human Resources Department staff members Mariah Garza and Becky Bennett.
Finance Director Angela Calkins, Food and Beverage Director Chuck McPherson
and baby Cash David Engles at the employee Christmas party.
Gerard fondly remembers Zakoji’s “valuable contributions to Indian people”
Editor’s note: Hiroto “Zak” Zakoji,
long-time consultant to and friend of the
Siletz Tribe, passed away July 27 at age
83. He was a friend of Indian Country
who helped a multitude of Tribes and
is remembered for his dedication and
desire to support Indian causes. Forrest
Gerard (Blackfeet) is a former assistant
secretary for Indian Affairs in the U.S.
Department of Interior, a long-time
friend of Zak’s and also a long-time
friend to the Siletz Tribe. This is his
remembrance of Zak.
By Forrest Gerard
Hiroto “Zak” Zakoji’s parents emigrat
ed from Japan to the United States in hopes
of providing a better life for their children-
to-be. His parents settled in Portland, Ore.,
where Zak and his sister were bom.
His parents have gone to a greater
reward and he is survived by a sister and
other relatives.
Unfortunately, his family’s life was
uprooted following the Japanese attack on
Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. The family
was sent to a containment camp for Japa
nese Americans, justified in the belief they
and others might harm the United States.
Zak harbored no bitterness from
this experience and joined the U.S. mili
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tary. Following this service, he graduated
from college and went to find his place in
the world.
Zak made a decision early on to
dedicate his life to working on behalf of
Indian people. He served them faithfully
and with distinction at several reserva
tions in Oregon.
I heard of Zak’s work early in my
career in Indian Affairs and I joined
him when he was employed by the Siletz
Tribe and I served as its Washington,
D.C., consultant.
It was a period when the Tribe sought
federal approval of land trust in Salem to
serve as a gaming site. Zak showed his
sense of humor in this effort that required
our attendance at many meetings with city
officials in Salem. We traveled back and
forth from Portland and when I made a
point of this fact, he smiled and said, “May
be we will be known as the 1-5 kids!”
That effort failed and the Tribe estab
lished a successful gaming enterprise in
Lincoln City on the Pacific Coast.
Zak continued his work for the Tribe
in many areas and contributed to success
ful ventures that benefit the Tribe and its
members to this very day.
I wish to comment on several of
Zak’s attributes and values that made him
a successful professional worker and a
January 2011
File photo
Forrest Gerard, Hiroto “Zak” Zakoji, Joe DeLaCruz and Nelson Witt
personal friend as well. Among these, I
would cite his loyalty; a strong work ethic;
fulfilling his work in an honest manner;
appreciation for the views and beliefs of
others; ready acceptance of difficult and
controversial work assignments; was re
spected by his employer and fellow staff;
conducted his work with his employer’s
best interests in mind; and never sought
personal recognition or attention for his
work on behalf of Indian people.
If I were asked to describe Zak in a
few words, I would characterize him as
a good and decent man whose primary
goal in life was to contribute to efforts that
would improve the social, economic and
political standing of Indian people.
I join the scores of people who will
miss Zak, but we shall also remember his
valuable contributions to Indian people.