Coquille Tribe battles opposition to off-reservation casino bid

Tuesday, September 3, 2013  

The Coquille Tribe of Oregon continues to face opposition to a proposed off-reservation casino.

The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe, the city of Medford, the Jackson County Commission and Gov. John Kitzhaber (D) oppose the casino. But the tribe says it is within its rights to pursue a Class II gaming facility.

“It's under different rules, it doesn't require a compact with the state,” Ray Doering, the director of communications for the tribe, told KVAL.

The tribe is going through the land-into-trust process for a 2.42-acre site in Medford. The site is about 186 miles from the Mill Casino, the tribe's Class III facility.

The Cow Creek Band operates a casino that is much closer. The Seven Feathers Casino Resort is about 71 miles from Medford.

“They've been our friends for a long time. There's never been any bad blood between these two tribes,” Wayne Shammel, the tribe's general counsel, told KVAL. “Don't take the bread out of the mouths of our children for theirs.”

Get the Story:
Coquille Tribe makes moves toward Medford casino (KVAL-TV 9/2)

Coquille Tribe stands behind plans for off-reservation casino (08/28)