The Coquille Tribe's proposed Medford casino project has gained significant momentum following the Bureau of Indian Affairs' (BIA) favorable final environmental impact statement (FEIS), despite facing substantial opposition.

The project, initially rejected under the Trump administration in 2020, was revived by Biden's team in 2021. Following the FEIS, a 30-day public comment period will commence before the BIA issues its final record of decision (ROD) on the land-trust application.

The Coquille Tribe plans to build a modest gaming facility on a former bowling alley site in Medford, located 168 miles from their current Mill Casino in Coos Bay. The tribe first submitted their application in 2013.

Opposition comes from multiple sources:

• Several Oregon and California tribes
• U.S. Congressional representatives from both states
• Oregon Governor Tina Kotek
• Local advocacy groups

Critics argue that:

• The project constitutes "reservation shopping"
• Urban, off-reservation gaming violates the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act's intent
• The tribe's ancestral claims to the area are disputed

Coquille Tribe Chair Brenda Meade counters these arguments, explaining that the 1989 Coquille Restoration Act specifically included Jackson County (where Medford is located) as an area where tribal lands could be taken into trust. She emphasizes that federal policies historically caused tribal dispersal across the region.

The Cow Creek Umpqua Tribe, one of the main opponents, claims Interior Secretary Deb Haaland has dismissed their concerns. Tribal Chair Carla Keene expressed frustration over the government's handling of their objections, stating they've been treated "as a nuisance" rather than a sovereign nation.

The project's fate now hinges on the upcoming public comment period and final ROD, with opponents concerned about potential fast-tracking during the administration's lame-duck period.

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