The Grand Ronde Tribe of Oregon will appeal the decision of the U.S. Circuit Court of appeals that denied its appeal of a decision allowing the Cowlitz tribe to build a casino near La Center, Washington. It will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The appeals court decision came on July 29. The tribe argues that it will lose 41 percent of its casino revenue if the Cowlitz facility is allowed to go forward in Clark County in the neighboring state.
Although most tribes abhor the 2009 Carcieri v. Salazar ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court, which held that tribes recognized after 1934 cannot put land into trust, the Grand Ronde tribes are counting on the high court to directly reference that decision.
Grand Ronde council member Tonya Gleason-Shepek told the Salem Statesman Journal, “Speaking for myself, I support requesting the Supreme Court to consider the case. It isn’t entirely about fighting another tribe,” adding, “I am also interested in having a clarifying Supreme Court decision. This would be good for all Indian country.”
The Cowlitz tribe is not waiting for that to happen before starting work on its ilani Casino Resort. The facility, located in Ridgefield, Washington, is expected to open next April.
