Tribes seeking a casino at scenic Gorge

Seattle Times ^ | 12/19/04 | Joseph B. Frazier

[B Knotts]

I wouldn't argue with any of that; but all that is going on here is that the governor is negotiating a deal whereby the tribe can trade land. They already have buildable land in Hood River, but Hood River would rather they not build there. So, they are trying to accommodate Hood River by negotiating this deal, and building in a place that they are wanted. It doesn't hurt that it's 20 miles closer to Portland, either.

[pillbox_girl]

But these land trades are not legal under federal law. I am not a lawyer, but I do know that the reservation lands were established with treaties with the United States, not Oregon. As such, no state governer has the right or authority to renegotiate the terms of the federal treaties or the boundaries of lands that fall under federal reservation jurisdiction (not that democrat governers have ever obeyed the limits placed on their authority). Just because nobody has yet bothered to take this to federal court does not mean it's legal.

If it's not on the reservation, then is is subject to Oregon law. So far as I know, Oregon law denies me the power to build a casino (or even to run my own video poker machines). Why should indians be any different just because of the accident of their birth?

And again, it's not really the warm springs tribes that want to build this casino. They are just willing to be the front for a Las Vegas corporation that is the real money and authority behind this deal (and who will ultimately benefit the most).