Federal Court Action Sought to Stop Coquille Tribe’s Battle to Open a Casino in Medford
MEDFORD, Ore. — In an ongoing bitter struggle, three Indian tribes have filed a lawsuit in a federal court in Washington D.C. to stop the Coquille Tribe from opening a casino in Medford.
Lawsuit Cites Violations of the U.S. Constitution
The lawsuit seeks to restrain the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Indian Affairs from approving the proposed casino, citing violations of the U.S. Constitution, federal tribal constitution policies, and the National Environmental Policy Act.
Seeking the restraining order are the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, the Tolowa Dee-ni Nation, and the Karuk Tribe.
They argue that the proposed casino threatens their economic, cultural, and environmental well-being. The three tribes operate the Seven Feathers Casino Resort in Canyonville and fear that the Medford casino will hurt them economically.
The lawsuit also claims that the Department of the Interior did not uphold its obligations to consult members of the three tribes, violating procedural and legal standards that govern casinos off-reservations.
The ongoing struggle by the Coquille Tribe to open a casino in Medford recently took a step forward when the Bureau of Indian Affairs approved a Final Environmental Impact Study.
See also: Coquille Tribe Casino in Medford Gets Federal Support
The Lawsuit is a Last Resort Effort by Three Tribal Nations
Describing the lawsuit as ‘a last resort’ the chairperson of the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe, Carla Keene, accuses the administration of failing in its responsibility to consult with tribal members.
The lawsuit claims that if the project goes ahead, it will violate the state’s long-standing policy of ‘One Tribe, One Casino.’ They also point out that Medford is 160 miles from the Coquille Tribe’s ancestral grounds.
The Medford casino project has long been opposed by Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and state senators.