he Cowlitz Tribe is in the process of creating and developing our initial reservation on 152 acres at La Center’s I-5 interchange in Clark County. We believe that the planned casino-resort can be an economic asset, tourist attraction and recreational amenity for the entire region.

The federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act requires the tribal proceeds from gaming to be used for “promoting tribal economic development, self-sufficiency, and strong tribal government.” This means that revenues the Cowlitz Tribe receives will be invested here in Southwest Washington, not taken elsewhere. One example of how this works in this state is the Muckleshoot Tribe, which has used gaming proceeds to build new tribal retail stores, a college, a 45,000-square-foot childcare center and a $19.3 million dollar healthcare clinic.

The Cowlitz will use proceeds to endow scholarships for our young and provide health care and prescription drug benefits to our growing number of elders. The new resources will help us preserve our culture and language, while protecting ancestral lands and the environment. As our tribe becomes economically stronger, we will be able to further contribute to neighboring communities.

In addition to gaming, the new Cowlitz resort will provide a first class venue for entertainment, fine dining, lodging and specialty stores that will attract shoppers into the county. The businesses on the Cowlitz reservation will provide jobs for the surrounding community, as well as for Tribal members. Employees will receive competitive salary and benefits packages.

Clark County has long sought to boost its tourism industry. Our tribal casino and resort will aid in these efforts, complementing other facilities such as the Vancouver Convention Center. It will add a new dimension to the historical focus brought by the Lewis and Clark anniversary, Fort Vancouver and the ongoing restoration and redevelopment of the Vancouver National Historic Reserve.

The Cowlitz Tribe has lived in Southwest Washington for uncounted centuries. The first historical encounter of our Tribe was recorded by fur trappers in the region in 1811, shortly after Lewis and Clark passed through. The death in 1855 of Cowlitz Chief Umtux in Clark County gave the town of Battle Ground its name.

Over the years, our Tribe has fought patiently and steadfastly for official recognition and for settlement concerning lands taken from us. Recognition came in 2000 and now we are seeking to place the land at the La Center interchange in trust for our initial reservation. Being landless, we need a home base like other tribes.

There has been some unfortunate confusion among the public over the plans for the Cowlitz Casino Resort. It is true that our plans have been evolving as we have worked to understand how best to benefit tribal members and the people of the region. When we first embarked on this process, we had very little in the way of resources. Recently we announced that the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut – a tribe with a strong track record of both business success and community cooperation – will become a partner in developing the new casino. This gives us the resources to develop a complete plan and provide more details.

Recognizing that the development needs to be done responsibly, we asked the BIA to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement. The EIS process will identify the potential impacts of our property – both positive and negative – and mitigation measures.

We have also entered a Memorandum of Understanding with Clark County that specifies our commitments, such as voluntarily reimbursing the County for property tax, hotel tax, governmental services, and abiding by County environmental and development ordinances. And, we are committed to working with local communities, government agencies and service providers, schools, and businesses to forge partnerships and share the success and opportunities the casino resort will create.

We believe the casino-resort will be an amenity for all of Southwest Washington, spurring the tourist economy. It will provide social and economic benefits for the Tribe, as well as employment opportunities. We look forward to working with the community to make the new casino and resort something we can all be proud of.