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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (April 15, 2005)
8 APRIL 15, 2005 Smoke Signals Governor Changes The Face Of Indian Gaming In Oregon GOVERNOR continued from front page land. Address any concerns of the state about the design of the gaming fa cility to ensure it will be aestheti cally compatible with the environ ment of the Gorge. Incorporate environmentally friendly "green building" technolo gies in the design and construction of the facility and has agreed to pursue the use of renewable en ergy in connection with this development. Develop a traffic man agement plan so that emissions in the Gorge are not substantially in creased due to increased traffic. Adopt an ordinance with such protections as minimum wage, anti-discrimination, family medical leave, Ameri cans with Disabilities Act, OSHA, workers com pensation and unem ployment insurance pro tections. Pay all costs associated with constructing a new interchange on Inter state 84. Close its casino at the Kah-Nee-Ta Lodge on the Reservation. In Grand Ronde, the Tribe believes that "Tribes have the right to pursue economic sta bility to provide for their members," according to Grand Ronde Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle Kennedy. In addition, Kennedy said, "That goes for us as well. The door swings both ways." "We will once again pursue the option of moving within Grand Ronde's aboriginal territory, in cluding Portland, which was ceded to the U.S. government in a treaty signed in 1855," said Kennedy in a statement April 1", when the Grand Ronde Tribe knew that the deal with Warm Springs was go ing ahead, but the official an nouncement had not yet been made. Though the Grand Rondes have long opposed off-reservation Tribal gaming, the turnaround has come in an effort to "protect the future of our people," according to Kennedy. The Cow Creeks, however, stand by their opposition to off-reservation Tribal gaming. "We have al- sition," according to a page of "Talk ing Points" provided by Tribal Chairman Antone Minthorn. "It is not our role to weigh in on negotiations and projects between another Tribe and the state gov ernment." Nevertheless, the "Points" goes on, "These new devel opments in gaming are causing us to evaluate our gaming options...." Although no Tribe but Grand Ronde has publicly expressed inter est in an off-reservation casino, Tribal sources say privately that all IM Rudy Clements Warm Springs Cheryle Kennedy Grand Ronde Ron Suppah Warm Springs Eye Of The Storm "We will once again pursue the option of moving within Grand Ronde's aboriginal territory, including Portland, which was ceded to the United States government in a treaty signed in 1 855," said Grand Ronde Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle Kennedy. ways stated strongly and I have advised the other Tribes that the strongest protection that the Tribes have is to live within all of Section 20 (of the Indian Gaming Regula tory Act), that provides for casinos just on reservation lands," said Sue Shaffer, Chairman of the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians. The Cow Creeks own the Seven Feathers Hotel and Ca sino Resort in Canyonville. In Pendleton, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Res ervation "has taken a neutral po- are now on the hunt. In the April Tribal Council Gen eral Meeting in Eugene, Tribal Vice Chair Reyn Leno reported that the Governor, in a meeting with the Tribal Council, had promised to "never say never" regarding the Tribe's off-reservation ambitions. "He has and will treat each Tribe as a separate Tribal entity," said Governor Ted Kulongoski's spokes woman Holly Armstrong, "and will hear each proposal and look at them on a case by case basis with regard to the best interest of the state, and a big factor for him is lo cal agreement and input." The renegotiated compact will need approval of the Secretary of the Interior. That decision will be decided on two points identical to the Oregon Governor's criteria: what is best for the Tribe and not detrimental to the surrounding community, said Nedra Darling, a Bureau of Indian Affairs spokes woman. Three other Tribes have gained approval for off-reservation casinos, said Darling, one each in Washington, Michigan and Wisconsin. She could not provide a timetable for the decision, however. Projections commis sioned for the Grand Ronde Tribe indicate that the Warm Springs decision could have "a huge impact" on the Grand Ronde's Spirit Mountain Casino, according to Cheryle Kennedy. "Our work is to minimize whatever impact it could have. We have se rious projects that we are entertaining." "The revenue that Tribes earn from gaming is like wood that energizes the fire," said Warm Springs' Rudy Clements. "You can't have a fire unless you have wood. I think for Tribes that have been in destitute conditions or in great need, the revenue is the source for a good quality of life for Indian people.. Goals and objectives can be successful for education, health. I think the Tribe's traditional culture can be energized because of rev enue. The security of your commu nity, the protection of your commu nity, the homes. If you don't have that revenue you can't have a quality of life for your people. I think it's a great great opportunity for Tribes to spiral upwards and we should all be happy about that." B Mark Hatfield Fellow Returns To Grand Ronde Grand Ronde Tribal member Joe Hostler reports to Tribal Council on his activities in Congressman Greg Walden's Office. By Ron Karten "I never would have thought about things working the way they do," said Tribal member and this year's Hatfield Fellow Joe Hostler. He was reporting to the Tribal Council in March about his experiences as the Tribe's seventh Hatfield Fellow. Hostler was named last August, and began working in the office of Congressman Greg Walden in December. "There are 435 offices," he added, "and each one runs dif ferently. I'm fortunate. My of fice says, Tfou want to do Indian things, ok, we'll take care of the rest.' It's kind of a gift and kind of a curse." He also told the council that out of sight is out of mind in the nation's capital. "Keep their ears," he said, "and if you can, I 0 get their eyes, too." The council, in turn, peppered Hostler with questions about Tribal issues. "How do we shorten the learning curve (in Washington, D.C.) to get started on (filling) Tribal needs?" asked Tribal Chairwoman Cheryle Kennedy. "How much do you hear about Indian gaming and natural re source issues?" asked Tribal Coun cil member Jan D. Reibach. Hostler also brought back reports on issues of concern to the Tribe. "They're talking about means test ing" before awarding federal dollars to Tribes, said Hostler. "Some Tribes are wealthy and don't need federal support." An effort is underway to create so-called "gaming opportunity zones" off reservations and in cities where "every Tribe that wants to can put in a casino." Thanks to casino money, Tribes are not ignored as completely as they used to be, said Hostler, but when it comes to matters of sover eignty, legislators tend to forget the country's treaty obligations. "Most (Tribes) have had to as sert this in court." "Joe has been a tremendous asset in briefing Congressman Walden on Tribal issues," re ported Angela Wilhelms, spokes woman for the Congressman, in an email, "has helped staff hear ings in the Committee on Re sources and was instrumental in facilitating a conversation be tween Congressman Walden and representatives of the Bu reau of Indian Affairs. Joe's background in natural resource issues is a great benefit to the office as well given the work on many important issues before the Committee on Resources as well as the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health."
