MEDIA ALERT
February 16, 2006
Contact: Jamie Sijohn
Spokane Tribe, Public Relations Director
Office 509-458-6586
Cell 509-939-5980
Today, Governor Christine Gregoire signed the Spokane Tribe's Gaming Compact, which was sent to the Governor by the Washington State Gambling Commission last week with a 6 to 3 vote in favor of approval. Spokane Tribal Chairman, Richard Sherwood, signed the Compact on behalf of the Tribe earlier this week.
The Gaming Compact sets limits for the size and scope of gaming for the Spokane Tribe, and brings the Tribe's gaming operations within a cooperative Tribal, State, and federal regulatory structure.
Spokane Tribal Council Secretary Gerald Nicodemus said, "this Compact promises to benefit our Tribe and the entire region, by creating needed jobs and boosting the local economy. This Compact also ensures that Spokane Indian Gaming stays limited and well regulated. The Compact represents a fair agreement resulting from a lengthy negotiation process."
The Compact follows a request by Governor Christine Gregoire to renegotiate a gaming agreement reached November of 2005. The new agreement contains a significant reduction in the size and scope of gaming from the original document.
In addition, the Spokane Tribe commits itself to community investments and addressing local impacts of its gaming operations. "The Spokane Tribal Business Council is reaching out to the Tribe's neighbors and is working to ensure any impacts of its gaming operations will be fully mitigated" Nicodemus said. "We have listened to our friends and neighbors and will address their concerns. This will be a new day for the Spokane Tribe and our neighbors," added Nicodemus.
"With additional funds from gaming, our Tribal Council will work to improve health care to Tribal members, provide higher education for our children and build an infrastructure which will improve our Reservation economy for generations to come" Nicodemus said.
The signing of the Compact promises to end 15 years of complex legal battles between the Tribe and the United States concerning whether Washington failed to negotiate a gaming compact with the Tribe in good faith. The newly signed Gaming Compact would resolve all outstanding issues.
A joint statement by the Spokane Tribal Business Council declared: "With mutual respect and consideration for the issues important to both our Tribe and Washington State, and with the positive leadership of Governor Gregoire and the Gambling Commission's negotiating team, we have reached a Compact which will serve the Tribe and State well."
The Process from Here
The Secretary of the United States Department of Interior has 45 days to review and approve the Compact. If approved, the Secretary will publish notice of approval of the Spokane Compact in the Federal Register. Tribal officials are optimistic that the Secretary of Interior will approve the Compact. Gerald Nicodemus stated, “we intend to personally deliver the Compact to the Department of the Interior before the ink is dry.”
