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v. 30
no. B
April 14,
005
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April 14, 2005 Vol. 50, No. 8
Coyote News, est. 1976
Tymc
Giant si
p toward prosperity
Tribes, state
agree on gaming
at the Columbia
By Dave McMechan
Spilyay Tymoo
CASCADE LOCKS -The Confed
erated Tribes last week signed an agree
ment with the state that quite possibly
could lead to the most important eco
nomic development program in the
tribes' history.
The agreement, or gaining compact,,
provides the necessary state approval
for development of a tribal casino at
Cascade Locks on the Columbia River.
The approval process now moves
to the federal level. State approval is
vital, and very influential during the fed
eral process. So in reaching agreement
with the governor last week, the tribes
had much to celebrate.
Gathering at the river
It is always an interesting experience
being at the Columbia River with
people of the Confederated Tribes.
Last week the experience was more in
teresting, and historic than usual.
In many ways tribal members seem
at home on the Columbia, even more
so than on the reservation. There are
landmarks along the river that for non
Indians may be historic and interesting.
But for Indians these same landmarks
are family traditions. Old fishing sites
along the bank, where the people
caught salmon from scaffolds, are those
of family members from years past.
In some instances these sites are still
used by their descendants.
So moving the tribal gaming enter
prise from the reservation to the Co
lumbia is not really a return to die river,
because the tribes have always been
there.
Instead, a casino at the Columbia is
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Tribal Council Chairman Ron Suppah signs agreements on behalf of the tribes.
Dave McMechanSpilyay
a return of the tribal economy to the
river, where it had been since time im
memorial, until the tribes were removed
to the reservation.
The coincidental timing of the Cas- 1 855, the tribes have signed another
cade Locks casino compact is interest- agreement, one that should lead to the
ing to think about: In the year of the first major tribal presence at the Co-
150th anniversary of the Treaty of lumbia since the creation of the reser
vation, and especially since the flood
ing of the mighty Cclilo Falls.
The hardship of the people who
went before can never be amended. But
the present generation, relying on sov
ereignty and the traditional lands of the
tribes, can try its best to provide for
the generations to come. It is a lofty
sentiment, one that last week took a
large step closer to reality.
"The signing of this compact is a
great and historic moment for the Con
federated Tribes," said Warren Rudy
Clements, chairman of the tribes' gam
ing expansion commission. The nego
tiation process toward the compact
"has been an exercise of our tribal sov
ereignty," he said.
The process has taken years, he said,
and the tribal membership is to be com
mended for their patience. The agree
ment is the culmination of negotiations
that began between the tribes and the
state as early as 1997 and grew more
involved over the past couple of years,
especially since Gov. Ted Kulongoski
took office in 2002.
Along the way, said Clements,
"We've kept the Tribal Council updated
continually but, because of the sensi
tivity of the negotiations, some infor
mation could not be released to the
general public. The membership has
been patient. I'm very proud of our
community, and proud of the Tribal
Council in moving forward with the
negotiations."
" The next step in the process is "at
the federal level, to the Secretary of
the Interior.
"We've crossed one major hurdle,"
said Clements. "But we're not out of
the woods yet."
As stated by Tribal Council Chair
man Ron Suppah, the recent compact
with the state of Oregon is "one step
in many. We still have a long way to
go"
See CASINO on page 8
Tribal members gather for signing
The scene of the signing of the
tribal-state gaming compact was the
Marine Pavilion at the Port of Cascade
Locks. On hand for the event were the
Tribal Council, the gaming commission
ers, the secretary-treasurer and the
chief operations officer, and many
other tribal members. A bus carrying
elders arrived from Warm Springs,
while some came by car.
The governor was also on hand, as
were other state officials, along with the
Cascade Locks City Council and mayor
and former mayor, the board of the
Port of Cascade Locks, and a commis
sioner of Hood River County.
The people of Cascade Locks, popu
lation 1,000, seemed by and large to
be genuinely happy about the tribes'
plans, and were welcoming. A large sign
- welcoming the governor and the Con
federated Tribes - hung at the back of
the pavilion. The Cascade Locks High
School pep band opened the morning's
activities with a song.
Hood River County Commissioner
Carol York, a key advocate of the Cas
cade Locks casino proposal, was the co
master of ceremonies, along with tribal
gaming representative Warren Rudy
Clements.
Representing the tribes in the sign
ing of the gaming compact with Gov.
Ted Kulongoski was Tribal Council
Chairman Ron Suppah. Suppah said he
was glad to see that former Council
chairmen Garland Brunoe and OIney
Part Jr. had made it to the ceremony.
Brunoe and Part, he said, had worked
For years during their tenure on Coun
cil toward the new gaming compact
751 J
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Compact contains unique
revenue sharing provisions
Dave McMechanSpilyay
Among those in attendance at the signing ceremony were Ken Smith,
former secretary-treasurer of the tribes, who is still consulted regarding
gaming expansion; OIney Patt Jr., former Council chairman now working at
the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission; and Warm Springs Chief
Delvis Heath, among many others.
Toward the start of die signing cer
emony, Wasco Chief Nelson
Wallulatum gave an opening blessing
and prayer. Former Oregon governor
Vic Ativeh was present for die signing.
Atiyeh has been a long-time supporter
of the tribes in their pursuit of eco
nomic development.
Before the signing, Gov. Kulongoski
said the compact represents the best
effort on everyone's part to meet the
economic needs of die tribes, as well
as the interests of the state of Oregon,
and the people of Hood River County.
Oregon students will benefit, he said,
because a percentage of revenue from
the casino will go toward helping stu
dents achieve higher education. A share
of the revenue also will go toward pro
tection of the Columbia Gorge envi
ronment. "The way I see it," he said,
"Cascade Locks will benefit, Oregon will
benefit, and the tribes will benefit"
More en the signing certmony on 8 end 9
The state-tribal compact for gam
ing at Cascade Locks includes pro
visions that are unique among Indian
gaming compacts. The revenue shar
ing provision is in particular unique.
Through this provision, the tribes
agree to share with the state a por
tion of its revenues from the Cas
cade Locks facility.
Revenue sharing is based on a per
centage of the "net win" from Class
III gaming, to be paid to the state
on an annual basis.
During the first seven years of
operation of the new casino, the per
centage shared with the state varies,
from 6 to 17 percent. The lower
percent in the early years of opera
tion gives the tribes a better position
from which to negotiate with financ
ing companies, and allows the tribes
to pay off the construction loan
sooner.
After the seventh year of opera
tion, the percentage shared with the
state will be 17 percent of die net
win. It is projected in the first 10
years of casino operation, the state
will receive $270 million in shared
revenue. The following is the execu
tive summary' of key provisions of
Cascade Locks Class III Gaming
Compact
Financial benefits to tribe
During the first 10 years of op
eration, the Cascade Locks casino is
expected to generate cash flow to the
tribes of approximately $580 million
after payment of construction loans
of approximately $300 million.
After the loans have been paid off,
beginning in year eight, the cash flow
to the tribes increases significantly.
For example, projections show that
in year eight the Casino is expected
to generate $123 million for the
tribes.
Non-financial benefits to tribes
Four-hundred temporary jobs will
be created during the construction
phase.
A tribal member preference ap
plies to hiring of construction work
ers, eligibility for construction union
apprenticeship programs, and for hir
ing of subcontractors.
There will also be 1,300 perma
nent jobs when the casino and resort
open. Tribal member preference ap
plies in employment at die casino and
resort. If a union is established at the
resort, tribal members are not re
quired to join or to pay dues.
Recitals
Extensive recitals at the beginning
of the compact provide the justifi
cation for die tribes and state agree
ing on a compact for off-reservation
gaming at Cascade Locks, and for
revenue sharing.
Set COMPACT en pagr 12