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Letters

August 13, 2024

The Department of the Interior’s Response to to Chairman Westerman

As codified at 25 USC §2719, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) generally prohibits gaming on lands acquired
in trust after October 17, 1988, with exceptions only as specified in that provision. The IGRA’s general prohibition is the primary barrier for Tribes seeking to have land taken into trust for gaming.

March 5, 2024

Tribal Alliance Opposition Letter to Secretary Haaland

To the extent you have not yet reached the conclusion that the Coquille Project, if approved, would violate the substance and intent of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, and would cause irreparable harm to regional Tribal communities, we invite you to travel to our homelands and consult with our elected leaders about how the Coquille Project would impact each of our Tribal nations and peoples.

January 16, 2024

Opposition Letter from Representatives Blumenauer, Huffman, Salinas to Secretary Haaland

We write today to urge you to reject the Coquille Indian Tribe’s application to have land taken into trust under the restored lands exception to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), for the development of a new Class II casino in Medford, Oregon.

December 20, 2023

Opposition Letter from Senator Butler to Secretary Haaland

I write today to urge you to decline the Coquille Indian Tribe’s (Coquille) application to have land taken into trust under the restored lands exemption for gaming to open a second casino…

December 1, 2023

Opposition Letter from Senators Wyden and Merkley to Secretary Haaland

We write today to urge you to reject the Coquille Indian Tribe’s application to have land taken into trust under the restored lands exception to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).

November 8, 2023

Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations Letter to Assistant Secretary Newland

…we write to urge you to work with the Coquille Indian Tribe to resubmit their application using the two-part determination process.

August 10, 2023

Opposition Letter from California Nations Indian Gaming Association

CNIGA…asks that you work with Coquille to resubmit their application using the two-part determination process.

April 13, 2023

Opposition Letter from Oregon Governor Tina Kotek

[M]y policy on Tribal gaming facilities maintains the status quo from past governors, i.e., good faith bargaining between sovereign Tribes and the State on one gaming facility per tribe on reservation land.

April 13, 2023

Opposition Letter from U.S. Representative Cliff Bentz, Oregon

[F]urther economic development for the Coquille should not come at the cost of safety, opportunity, or economic development for Medford and its surrounding communities.

February 23, 2023

Opposition Letter from Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon

The development of second casinos off reservation, closer to urban populations, will demand that Oregon tribes, whose on-reservation casinos are impacted, seek their own off-reservation casinos.

February 23, 2023

Opposition Letter from Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation

We do not lightly oppose economic development initiatives by other Indian tribes, but such projects cannot be developed without strict compliance with federal law.

February 14, 2023

Opposition letter from Northern California Tribal Chairpersons Association (NCTCA)

This proposal is being considered under a deeply irregular process which disregards congressional intent, negatively impacts a number of Tribes located in the region, and could set a damaging precedent.

January 31, 2023

Opposition Letter from U.S. Congressman LaMalfa

[T]he proposal is widely opposed in the region and would have a significant negative impact on communities and tribes in both California and Oregon. The Department should once again reject this dubious proposal.

December 15, 2022

Testimony from Gail Hatcher, Vice-Chair of Klamath Tribes

A casino in Medford would be devastating to our tribe here in Klamath County. That casino would cause a lose of employment, not only to tribal members, but to nontribal as well.

November 22, 2022

Opposition Letter from U.S. Congressman Huffman

We believe that the CRA was not meant to to benefit one tribe over others.

November 2, 2022

Letter from U.S. Senators Wyden, Merkley, Feinstein, and Padilla

Allowing this case to supersede the established process defined by IGRA could destabilize the system and weaken public confidence in the framework that has helped so many tribes find economic independence.

October 26, 2022

Letter from Elk Valley Rancheria, California

We urge you to oppose the Coquille application for acquisition of land in trust for gaming purposes in Medford, Oregon.

May 20, 2016

Opposition Letter from Oregon Governor Barbara Roberts

I am deeply concerned by the Coquille Tribe’s attempt to open a casino in Medford and thereafter throughout southern Oregon, without any meaningful opportunity for formal input from the State of Oregon.

May 6, 2016

Opposition Letter from Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber

My “one casino per tribe” policy direction and gaming compacts entered into between the State and the tribes…[attempts] to strike a balance between tribal pursuit of economic enterprise and a check on the expansion of gambling in our State.

May 12, 2016

Letter from U.S. Representatives Bonamici, Blumenauer, and Schrader

Opposition from the state, city, and country to a casino far-removed from the Coquille ancestral lands (and their restored lands reservations) should give the agency great pause about this application.

April 13, 2016

Opposition Letter from Oregon Governor Kate Brown

I do not believe that an expansion in the number of casinos sited in Oregon is in the best interests of the State or her people.

April 14, 2016

Second Opposition Letter from Karuk Tribe

[T]ribes in Michigan and the Sacramento, California areas are also watching this matter because it promises to jump-start a gaming implosion in Indian Country if Coquille’s request, and similar ones to follow, are given the green light.

January 25, 2016

Letter from U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, Representative Pete DeFazio

When it comes to gaming, tribes must follow the requirements of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (GRA).

November 19, 2015

Letter from Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians

We believe that if Congress wanted to direct the Secretary to accept land within the tribe’s service area in trust as a mandatory acquisition, it would have done so explicitly.

August 6, 2015

Letter from Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan

There are other tribes in the state of Michigan who have acts of restoration similar to the Coquille Restoration Act, and if that restoration act is read broadly, these tribes would look to pursue the same course of action as Coquille; they would see to go far outside their aboriginal lands to locations that are in another tribes aboriginal territory.

October 21, 2013

Opposition Letter from U.S. Senators Wyden, and Merkley

Oregon’s careful balance between producing gambling revenues and a focus on the public good of our citizens could be seriously compromised.

News

Keep Your Promise to Tribes

September 27, 2024

Authorization of Nine West Coast Off-Reservation Tribal Casinos Imminent

Tribal Business News

June 14, 2024

Legal Battles & Big Bets: Indian gaming news this month

Roll Call

June 10, 2024

Oregon casino battle works its way into appropriations process

Los Angeles Times

April 9, 2024

An Oregon tribe’s casino bid sparks furor over what land tribes can rightfully call home

GrayDC

March 29, 2024

Tribes ask Biden Administration to reject Coquille casino proposal

Oregon Capital Chronicle

March 29, 2024

Tribes ask U.S. interior secretary to deny proposed casino in Medford

NBC16 Eugene, Oregon

March 15, 2024

Four Tribal Nations stand against Coquille Indian Tribe’s casino project

The news-review

March 12, 2024

Tribes urge visit before decision on Coquille Project

Card Player

January 16, 2024

Oregon Tribe Causes Stir With Casino Plans

Jefferson Public Radio

January 16, 2024

Coquille Tribe’s long bet on contentious new casino may still pay off

times standard

January 10, 2024

Oregon tribe’s attempt to build casino far from reservation draws Karuk Tribe’s ire

(paywall)

greenwire

december 5, 2023

Tribal leaders press competing agendas at White House summit

(paywall)

ict

december 4, 2023

Indian gaming, land protections at summit’s forefront

williamette week

November 23, 2023

Medford Casino Battle Heats Up

rogue valley times

November 22, 2023

Medford casino expected to be approved as tribes, lawmakers slam plan

fox news

November 20, 2023

Biden admin poised to green-light tribal gambling expansion despite opposition from Native Americans, Dems

Newsweek

November 16, 2023

President Biden Must Keep His Promise to Tribal Nations | Opinion

Play usa

may 1, 2023

Oregon Governor Says She Doesn’t Support Another Medford Casino

williamette week

April 13, 2023

Kotek Tells Tribes She Opposes Any Expansion of Gambling in Oregon

Kdrv

march 3, 2023

Several Tribes across Southern Oregon & Northern California express opposition to proposed Coquille casino in Medford

smoke signals

September 14, 2022

Siletz, Coquille Tribes withdraw from Oregon Tribal Gaming Alliance

statesman journal

April 16, 2016

Gov. Brown: Medford casino a public ‘detriment’

Oregon business

october 31, 2013

Senators oppose Medford casino plan

Oregon business

october 31, 2013

Senators oppose Medford casino plan

Keep Your Promise to Tribes

September 27, 2024

Authorization of Nine West Coast Off-Reservation Tribal Casinos Imminent

Tribal Business News

June 14, 2024

Legal Battles & Big Bets: Indian gaming news this month

Roll Call

June 10, 2024

Oregon casino battle works its way into appropriations process

LA Times

April 9, 2024

An Oregon tribe’s casino bid sparks furor over what land tribes can rightfully call home

GrayDC

March 29, 2024

Tribes ask Biden Administration to reject Coquille casino proposal

Oregon Capital Chronicle

March 21, 2024

Tribes ask U.S. interior secretary to deny proposed casino in Medford

NBC16 Eugene,
Oregon

March 15, 2024

Four Tribal Nations stand against Coquille Indian Tribe’s casino project

the news-review

March 12, 2024

Tribes urge visit before decision on Coquille Project

Card Player

January 16, 2024

Oregon Tribe Causes Stir With Casino Plans

Jefferson Public
Radio

January 16, 2024

Coquille Tribe’s long bet on contentious new casino may still pay off

Standard Times

January 10, 2024

Tribal leaders press competing agendas at White House summit

(Paywall)

Greenwire

december 5, 2023

Tribal leaders press competing agendas at White House summit

(Paywall)

ict

december 4, 2023

Indian gaming, land protections at summit’s forefront

williamette week

November 23, 2023

Medford Casino Battle Heats Up

rogue valley times

november 22, 2023

Medford casino expected to be approved as tribes, lawmakers slam plan

fox news

november 20, 2023

Biden admin poised to green-light tribal gambling expansion despite opposition from Native Americans, Dems

newsweek

november 18, 2023

President Biden Must Keep His Promise to Tribal Nations | Opinion

play usa

May 1, 2023

Oregon Governor Says She Doesn’t Support Another Medford Casino

williamette week

april 13, 2023

Kotek Tells Tribes She Opposes Any Expansion of Gambling in Oregon

Kdrv

march 3, 2023

Several Tribes across Southern Oregon & Northern California express opposition to proposed Coquille casino in Medford

smoke signals

september 14, 2022

Siletz, Coquille Tribes withdraw from Oregon Tribal Gaming Alliance

statesman journal

april 16, 2016

Gov. Brown: Medford casino a public ‘detriment’

oregon business

october 31, 2013

Senators oppose Medford casino plan

COW CREEK BAND of UMPQUA TRIBE of INDIANS

Tribes Join Cow Creek In Opposing Medford Casino Expansion

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Tell Secretary Haaland to Keep Her Promise

The Department of the Interior and the Biden Administration are considering an unprecedented exception for one Tribe that would have devastating social, cultural, and economic impacts on the livelihoods of thousands of Tribal nations across America.