42 <strong>Confederated</strong> <strong>Umatilla</strong> Journal<strong>November</strong> <strong>2011</strong>
Battle over proposed Spokane casino continuesAIRWAY HEIGHTS, Wash. (AP) -Spokane County commissioners werebarred from commenting when businessleaders opposed to a new <strong>Indian</strong> casinoasked <strong>the</strong>m for help in defending FairchildAir Force Base.The Spokesman-Review reported commissionersare bound to remain silentunder a deal in which <strong>the</strong> county wouldreceive payments to <strong>of</strong>fset <strong>the</strong> effects<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Spokane Tribe’s casino and hoteldevelopment.Commissioner Mark Richard defended<strong>the</strong> intergovernmental agreement thatrequires commissioners to remain neutralon <strong>the</strong> casino project, which is underconsideration by <strong>the</strong> U.S. Department <strong>of</strong><strong>Indian</strong> Affairs.The Spokane Tribe’s proposal is a hotlydisputed issue in Spokane County, inpart because <strong>the</strong> proposed casino wouldbe close to <strong>the</strong> Kalispel Tribe’s Nor<strong>the</strong>rnQuest casino resort on <strong>the</strong> western outskirts<strong>of</strong> Spokane. The Spokane Tribe’sproposed casino needs federal permissionbecause it would be located <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong>irreservation.County commissioners Al French andTodd Mielke are looking for ways toregain <strong>the</strong>ir ability to influence <strong>the</strong> decisionon permitting a 14-story casino hotelnear <strong>the</strong> flight path <strong>of</strong> Fairchild trainingmissions.The hotel is <strong>the</strong> sort <strong>of</strong> ``encroachment’’that would weigh against Fairchildin ano<strong>the</strong>r round <strong>of</strong> military baseclosures expected in 2014, according toGreg Bever, past chairman <strong>of</strong> GreaterSpokane Incorporated, <strong>the</strong> region’s economicdevelopment agency.``We need <strong>the</strong> county’s voice on this issue,’’Bever told commissioners this week.Bever and Greater Spokane PresidentRich Hadley opposed <strong>the</strong> Spokane’scasino proposal in a Sept. 12 letter to <strong>the</strong>Bureau <strong>of</strong> <strong>Indian</strong> Affairs.``We are concerned that <strong>the</strong> 4,500 jobsat FAFB will be placed at risk if a majorcasino resort complex is developed,’’<strong>the</strong>y wrote.In addition to navigational interference,<strong>the</strong>y cited concerns about puttinglarge concentrations <strong>of</strong> people in <strong>the</strong> path<strong>of</strong> hundreds <strong>of</strong> monthly flights at lessthan 2,000 feet from <strong>the</strong> ground.Richard said he felt ``kind <strong>of</strong> ambushed’’by Bever’s comments. He saidhe supported <strong>the</strong> Spokane Tribe’s AirwayHeights proposal as a matter <strong>of</strong> fairness.While <strong>the</strong> Kalispel Tribe already has anAirway Heights casino, <strong>the</strong> Spokanes are``<strong>the</strong> tribe for which this community isnamed,’’ Richard said.Spokane Tribe Chairman Greg Abrahamsonsaid Wednesday <strong>the</strong> projectposes no navigational threat to Fairchildor <strong>the</strong> nearby Spokane InternationalAirport.He pointed to a Nov. 3 ruling by <strong>the</strong>Federal Aviation Administration that <strong>the</strong>tribal hotel tower wouldn’t interfere withnavigation and needn’t have warninglights or markings.``The tribe has met with Fairchild <strong>of</strong>ficialsand no so-called encroachment’ issueshave been identified,’’ Abrahamsonsaid in a news release.He said <strong>the</strong> development, on 140 acresat <strong>the</strong> western edge <strong>of</strong> Airway Heights,is expected to generate 3,800 permanentand part-time jobs. It will include retailshops, medical <strong>of</strong>fices and a tribal culturalcenter.CommunityForumMeetingMissionSenior CenterNov. 28, <strong>2011</strong>5 PM potluck6 PM MeetingKit Morgan, Legal Aid“Surrogate Decision Making”Noelle Richards -RARE youth projectsCome join us!more info call541-429-7386ND tribal <strong>of</strong>ficial, wifesentenced for <strong>the</strong>ftGRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) - A formerSpirit Lake Nation councilman and hiswife won’t serve prison time for stealingfrom <strong>the</strong> tribe.U.S. Attorney Timothy Purdon says69-year-old Carl Walking Eagle <strong>of</strong> FortTotten was sentenced Wednesday toabout four months <strong>of</strong> home detention tobe followed by three years <strong>of</strong> supervisedrelease, and 65-year-old Barbara WalkingEagle was sentenced to two years <strong>of</strong>supervised release.The couple also must pay about $8,400in restitution, and Carl Walking Eaglewas fined $1,000 and also ordered towrite a letter <strong>of</strong> apology to <strong>the</strong> tribe.The Walking Eagles were accused <strong>of</strong>hiding household income so <strong>the</strong>y couldget fuel assistance. Carl Walking Eaglewas <strong>the</strong> tribe’s vice chairman at <strong>the</strong> time.The couple pleaded guilty in August to<strong>the</strong>ft and embezzlement charges.Judge issues ruling ontribes and child supportJUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - A judge’sruling allowing Tlingit and Haida tribalcourts in sou<strong>the</strong>ast Alaska to adjudicatechild support in cases involving tribemembers is being touted as a victory fortribal authority.``The Court’s order reaffirms <strong>the</strong>Tribe’s inherent jurisdiction to handle <strong>the</strong>full range <strong>of</strong> family law issues affectingits citizens, including <strong>the</strong> particular issue<strong>of</strong> child support for <strong>the</strong> benefit <strong>of</strong> tribalchildren,’’ <strong>the</strong> Central Council <strong>of</strong> Tlingitand Haida <strong>Tribes</strong> <strong>of</strong> Alaska said followinglast week’s Superior Court ruling.In his ruling, Judge Philip Pallenbergdelineated a long history <strong>of</strong> complicationsthat he said were inevitable with asystem <strong>of</strong> dual sovereignty.Tara, We’re Sad.<strong>November</strong> <strong>2011</strong><strong>Confederated</strong> <strong>Umatilla</strong> Journal43
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