The Coquille Tribe’s long-standing ambitions to expand its gambling footprint have faced intensifying pushback from other tribes and community leaders. The Biden administration has found itself at the center of a political firestorm following its approval of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Coquille Tribe’s plan to establish an off-reservation casino in Medford, Oregon. Several Native American tribes, local politicians, and community leaders have staunchly opposed the proposal, citing threats to tribal relations, local economies, and environmental integrity.
Legal Action from Other Tribes
The Coquille Tribe, based in Coos Bay, has spent over a decade trying to convert a former Highway 99 bowling alley into a Class II gaming facility. The venue, located approximately 165 miles from the tribe’s reservation, aims to attract customers with slot machines, placing it in direct competition with other nearby tribal offerings.
On December 16, the Cow Creek Tribe, along with the Karuk Tribe and the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation, filed a lawsuit seeking a temporary restraining order to halt the project. The plaintiffs argue that the Biden administration failed to consult affected tribes, violating its NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) responsibilities.
“This legal action is our option of last resort after being denied repeated requests for consultation. The administration has failed to consult with our tribes about a project that puts the interests of one tribe over many others,” said Carla Keene, Cow Creek Umpqua tribal chairman.
While the Coquille Tribe hopes this new gaming expansion will pave a pathway to economic self-sufficiency, the project has become increasingly contentious among neighboring tribes. The Cow Creek Tribe fears this project would cannibalize revenue from its Seven Feathers Casino Resort in nearby Canyonville and threaten essential community-focused programs.
Conflicting Interests and Rising Concerns
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and California Governor Gavin Newsom have also opposed the project, emphasizing the potential for long-term consequences. Community leaders echoed these concerns, with Phoenix City manager Eric Swanson arguing that the environmental analysis provided in the FEIS does not adequately capture the actual impacts the casino will have on the region.
Despite the backlash, the Coquille Tribe has persevered, justifying the project by noting that Medford had the second-highest concentration of Coquille citizens at the time of the tribe’s restoration. Judy Farm, executive director of the tribe’s construction firm, Tribal One, commented that Coos Confederated Tribes had opened a second casino near the Coquille territory ten years ago with no such opposition.
“At the heart of opposition to this project is competition. Tribes have been set up to compete for resources in Oregon, and Cow Creek is simply trying to protect market share,” said Judy Farm, Tribal One executive director.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is expected to publish a Record of Decision in the coming weeks, determining the casino’s fate. Until then, the Cow Creek Tribe and its allies continue to push for an extended comment period and greater transparency in the decision-making process. The final decision could have significant long-term implications, reflecting the tenuous balance of tribal sovereignty, economic development, and inter-tribal relations.
