6 MARCH 15, 2005
Smoke Signals
The Punch Of Tribal Casinos In Oregon
OTGA continued
from front page
M
Economy." The group commis
sioned the report from
ECONorthwest, a Portland-based
economic consulting firm.
"It's not just about Indian Coun
try," said Stevens. "Seventy per
cent of our employees are not In
dian." In addition, nationwide in 2004,
Tribal casinos generated $5.5 bil
lion in federal taxes, $1.8 billion in
state taxes and more than $100
million in local taxes and fees, he
said. Gross revenues that year
amounted to $18.5 billion for Tribal
casinos with another $2.5 billion
coming from restaurants and other
casino-related businesses.
In Oregon in 2003, according to
the report, Tribal gaming generated
more than $42.6 million in state
and local taxes while saving nearly
$7.1 million in public assistance
costs through greater statewide
employment.
Five thousand six hundred forty
jobs and $156.5 million in wages
and benefits come directly from the
state's Tribal gaming industry. In
total economic output, Oregon's
Tribal casinos generated more than
a billion dollars.
The report, available through all
of the Tribal offices, dispelled the
myth that Indian casinos don't pay
taxes, according to Gary George
(Umatilla), Chief Executive Officer
of the Wildhorse Resort and Casino
outside of Pendleton, and Chair of
OTGA.
People also confuse Tribal casinos,
owned by Tribal governments, with
private casinos, owned by wealthy
individuals, and end up with the
myth that Indians are getting rich
off the profits.
"Nobody's getting rich," said
George. "The Tribes are taking the
money and funneling it back into
local communities and public ser
vices. The report does point out, how
ever, that through the success of
Tribal casinos, the number of Na
tive American households earning
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Team Players Siletz Chairwoman Dee Pigsley addresses a sparse crowd in front of the state Capitol with eight of nine
Tribal leaders in attendance. From left, Cheryle Kennedy, Grand Ronde; Sue Shaffer, Cow Creek; Antone Minthorn, Umatilla;
Ron Suppah, Warm Springs; Barbara Sam, Burns Paiute (hidden behind Suppah) ; Ernest L. Stevens Jr. , President of the
National Tribal Gaming Association and (hidden behind the Stevens) Ron Brainard, Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw.
According to the NTGA, Tribal Casinos generated $5.5 billion in federal taxes in 2004 and $ 1 .8 billion in state taxes.
at least $50,000 a year increased
nearly four fold during the 1990s.
It reports that educational attain
ment has vastly improved with one
in five Indian adults now holding
college degrees.
It reports that the percentage of
support what soon became the
Three Rivers Casino of the Confed
erated Tribes of the Coos, Lower
Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians.
"There are several reasons that
this is important to Grand Ronde,"
said Valorie Sheker-Robertson, a
"The Governor's decision to do line
games is fine and dandy. But how
many more jobs will that create for the
state? What's the economic benefit1?"
Valorie Sheker-Robertson
Tribal Council Member
Native Americans in Oregon living
below the poverty line fell 7.5 per
cent in the 1990s compared with a
one percent decline in Oregon as a
whole.
Two events prompted the OTGA
to develop this study, said George.
The 1999 Oregon Initiative to ban
video lottery terminals first drew the
Tribes together and they helped
defeat that Initiative. The Tribes
coalesced again in 2003 to fight a
group opposed to Tribal gaming and
Grand Ronde Tribal Council mem
ber and Vice Chair of the OTGA.
"It's a good partnership with all
nine Tribes. It strengthens our re
lationship. "Grand Ronde is 50 percent of the
gaming industry in Oregon," she
added. "This partnership lets the
numbers stand out. There's more,
too. The entertainment. The jobs.
The socio-economic benefits, the hid
den paycheck benefits (401-Ks,
health insurance). The Tribes are
providing a healthier aging popu
lation. "The Governor's decision to do line
games is fine and dandy," she said,
"but how many more jobs will that
create for the state? What's the eco
nomic benefit?"
"It's time that the public understood
the Tribes' contribution to Oregon,"
said Sue Shaffer, Chair of the Cow
Creek Band of Umpqua Indians.
"Much needed," said Warm
Springs Chairman Ron Suppah. "I
guess this will help us in the future."
George presented a copy of the re
port to Representative Tom Butler
(R-District 60), a member of the
Commission on Indian Services.
"We (the State of Oregon) need to
learn to use (gambling) funds the
way Native Americans use them,"
said Butler. He noted that the state
controls 58 percent of gaming in
Oregon while Tribal casinos control
35 percent. "You can show us how
to use them."
Indians have "picked themselves
up by their own moccasins," he
added.
"The statistics are remarkable,"
said Grand Ronde Tribal Council
Chairwoman Cheryle Kennedy.
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Wolf's Den About 300 people
attended the 12th Annual Western
Oregon University Pow-wow where
Eagle Beak was the host drum.
Pictured above is Yakama Tribal
member Richard "Bubba" Sohappy as
Eagle Beak plays a couple of Round
Dance songs using their hand made
hand drums. The pow-wow was held
in Monmouth, Oregon on Saturday,
February 26.