Now that its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Clark County is invalid, the Cowlitz Tribe is trying to keep its contents alive by inserting them into its gaming ordinance, which originally was approved by the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) in November 2005.
The tribe has been framing this plan as a way to ensure that problems arising from its proposed casino development would be mitigated. But it is clear that this is a last-ditch attempt to maintain an agreement so the county could provide the property with services, if it is taken into trust by DOI.
A response to the proposal by the county will be key.
What is particularly alarming is that putting the contents of the MOU into the NIGC ordinance would take the enforcement of local concerns -- law enforcement, county court, fire protection, health regulations, traffic mitigation, sewer and water issues, building codes, revenue-sharing, among others -- out of local hands and place it with a federal commission, which is not set up to oversee local matters. We have urged the NIGC to deny the Cowlitz Tribe’s request to amend its gaming ordinance.
(You might recall that the NIGC was the agency that approved the tribe’s restored lands application -- potentially qualifying the land at the La Center junction for gambling -- at the same time. That decision, which broke with all precedence, came under heavy fire and is under review by the Department of the Interior (DOI).)
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For more information, check out the CARS Web site:
Who’s behind the proposed casino project?
Many of CARS’ stories about this casino proposal describe it as the work of “the Cowlitz Tribe.” But every time we attribute it to “the Tribe,” we wince.
The casino project is being driven by the Salishan-Mohegan partnership, which includes:
+ the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority (49.15 percent)
+ David Barnett (Salishan Co.), son of the late tribal Chairman John Barnett (sharing 43 percent with the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians)
+ the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians, California (sharing 43 percent with David Barnett)
+ the Mohegan Tribe, Connecticut (7.85 percent)
According to the development agreement, the partnership would receive fees equal to 3 percent of total project costs. The management agreement states that Salishan-Mohegan would manage, operate and maintain the casino-resort for seven years and earn 24 percent of annual net revenues.
We want to be clear: CARS is critical of the casino proposal and the way it has been pursued. Beyond its involvement in the casino, we have no issue with the Cowlitz Tribe.
The casino project is being driven by the Salishan-Mohegan partnership, which includes:
+ the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority (49.15 percent)
+ David Barnett (Salishan Co.), son of the late tribal Chairman John Barnett (sharing 43 percent with the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians)
+ the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians, California (sharing 43 percent with David Barnett)
+ the Mohegan Tribe, Connecticut (7.85 percent)
According to the development agreement, the partnership would receive fees equal to 3 percent of total project costs. The management agreement states that Salishan-Mohegan would manage, operate and maintain the casino-resort for seven years and earn 24 percent of annual net revenues.
We want to be clear: CARS is critical of the casino proposal and the way it has been pursued. Beyond its involvement in the casino, we have no issue with the Cowlitz Tribe.
About CARS
Citizens Against Reservation Shopping (CARS) is a group of Clark County, Wash., citizens formed in June 2005 and led by longtime Vancouver businessman and civic leader Edward Lynch.
CARS opposes the Cowlitz Tribe's plan to build a casino in Clark County in part because it objects to the practice of "reservation shopping." This is the practice of selecting an ideal casino site and then working to have it given reservation status.