“We legally have the right since we negotiated our compact 20-some years ago. Pigsley cited the tribe’s 1995 compact with the state, which says the tribe and state may negotiate a gaming compact to use the Salem land. “She can’t disapprove it until we get a decision from the bureau,” Pigsley said in an interview Tuesday. Tribal Chairman Delores Pigsley said despite Kotek’s letter, the tribe intends to move forward. There would also be a 500-room hotel, nightclub and sports bar. The proposed 180,800-square-foot casino would house 2,000 gaming devices and 45 tables. The Siletz tribe has planned for years to build a 20-acre off-reservation casino on tribe-owned land at 4751 Astoria Street N.E. The letter was first reported by Willamette Week. This helps all of us avoid confusion, use of resources, and advocacy for and against changing my stance in favor of one gaming facility per tribe on reservation land,” the governor wrote.
“I wanted to provide this clarification of my Tribal gaming policy so that Tribes, the federal government, and local entities know where I stand. Federal law requires both federal and state approval for the project. The project is currently awaiting approval from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, where it’s sat for over a year.
