A long-delayed casino project in southern Oregon, which has sparked a clash between competing Native American tribes, has now caught the attention of congressional appropriators. Opponents are pushing for a provision in the upcoming Interior-Environment spending bill that would halt the project.

The Coquille Indian Tribe has been working for years to establish a new casino, a plan that faces opposition from other tribes and a broad coalition of politicians. This group includes Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, all four senators from Oregon and California, and various members of the House delegations from Oregon and northern California.

Last month, representatives from the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, based in Oregon, and the Karuk Tribe of northwest California urged House appropriators to include language in the fiscal 2025 bill to block the Coquille casino, which is currently under review by the Interior Department.

This request is the latest development in an ongoing dispute among the tribes. Coquille Chair Brenda Meade criticized the Cow Creek and Karuk tribes for seeking congressional intervention. “Indian gaming was never intended for specific tribes; it was meant for all tribes,” Meade said. “There is a process and a law that has been reviewed repeatedly and approved by Congress.”

The opposing tribes argue that the Coquille proposal would place a casino far from their lands and negatively impact other tribes’ gaming operations that fund vital services. Cow Creek CEO Michael Rondeau testified that the Coquille project could lead to reductions in healthcare, housing, education, and employment assistance for members of five tribes.

The Coquille tribe submitted its casino application in November 2012, aiming to convert a bowling alley into a gaming facility on a 2.4-acre site in Medford, Oregon. The Bureau of Indian Affairs initially rejected the proposal in 2020, but the Biden administration reversed this decision in late 2021, citing incomplete environmental review. A final decision is still pending.

The Cow Creek and Karuk tribes operate casinos along the I-5 corridor, which runs through Medford. Cow Creek owns Seven Feathers Casino in Canyonville, Oregon, and Karuk operates Rain Rock Casino in Yreka, California.

The Coquille tribe argues that the federal Coquille Restoration Act, which sets a legal definiton of Coquille tribal lands, includes Medford in their service area, allowing them to benefit from federal services even if it’s not within their primary reservation of 1,000 acres in Coos and Curry counties. The law also permits the Interior Secretary to accept additional land into trust for the tribe based on various factors.

Opponents, including Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., argue that the casino’s location is too far from the Coquille’s primary land and constitutes “reservation shopping.” LaMalfa’s spokeswoman noted that the Coquille tribe is attempting to bypass other tribes and casinos to reach a more populous area.

The Coquille tribe is pursuing the project under an exemption to the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which allows newly recognized tribes to open casinos on their land under an expedited process. Opponents are advocating for a “two-part determination” process, which involves more engagement with other tribes and stakeholders.

Sen. Laphonza Butler, D-Calif., expressed concern in a December letter to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland that favoring one restored tribe over others could undermine equitable treatment. However, the more complex process might ensure that the Medford casino project is shelved due to opposition from local officials.

Meade said it’s unsurprising that local politicians oppose the Coquille project, citing Cow Creek’s significant political influence. Cow Creek has spent considerably more on campaign contributions and lobbying compared to Coquille.

The opposing tribes are asking appropriators to exclude funding for off-reservation gaming applications where tribes lack ancestral or cultural ties to the land, and where state governors are not involved in the process. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., supports this request, emphasizing a balanced approach where each tribe has an equal chance for economic success.

However, appropriators might not favor this intervention. Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Chair Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., is publicly opposed to the project but is focused on passing a bill without controversial additions. The House’s Interior-Environment appropriations bill is expected to be released later this month.

Meade urged the Interior Department to base its decision solely on legal grounds rather than political pressure. “We expect the Department of Interior to make a decision based on the law, not on political influence,” she said.