After more than a decade of delays and controversy, the U.S. Department of the Interior has finally given the green light to the Coquille Indian Tribe’s casino project in Medford, Oregon. On January 10, 2025, the Department issued a Record of Decision (ROD) approving the Tribe’s request to transfer land into trust, a critical step in the development of The Cedars at Bear Creek, a proposed casino located on a 2.4-acre site in Medford. This approval comes after years of complex legal and environmental hurdles that delayed the project, which is expected to create significant economic opportunities for the Coquille Tribe and the surrounding community.

Decades of struggles and delays lead to approval:

The decision marks the culmination of a years-long battle, during which the Coquille Tribe has faced opposition and legal challenges. In 2012, the Tribe submitted its request to build a casino, a project that was delayed for over a decade, primarily due to opposition from other tribal groups and a prolonged environmental review process.

Brenda Meade, Chairwoman of the Coquille Tribe, expressed both relief and frustration, reflecting on the significant personal and emotional toll the lengthy process has taken on the Tribe. She highlighted that the delay had been exacerbated by competition from nearby casino operators and had cost the Tribe dearly in terms of lost opportunities. In her statement, Meade emphasized that the decision serves as a hard-won victory, not just for her Tribe, but for all those advocating for fair treatment of Indigenous nations by the federal government.

“This decision finally offers heartening sign to all tribal advocates who have pushed for the government to meet its responsibilities and trust obligations to Tribes. No tribe should go through the anguish and expense that the Coquille Tribe has endured”, she stated, according to KDRV.

The casino, planned for a site on Highway 99 in Medford, is expected to provide a significant boost to the Coquille Tribe’s economy, generating revenue for local services and creating jobs. It is also part of a broader effort to restore the Tribe’s sovereignty as outlined by the Coquille Restoration Act of 1989, which set the framework for the Tribe’s reservation expansion.

Opposition and legal challenges persist:

Despite the approval, the project has faced vocal opposition from other tribal groups and local politicians. In a highly contentious move, three tribes—The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, the Karuk Tribe, and the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation—filed a joint lawsuit to block the casino, claiming that the U.S. Department of the Interior’s decision violated constitutional guidelines. As Rogue Valley Times reports, the tribes argue that the approval process was rushed and that they were not adequately consulted about the potential impact of the project.

The Cow Creek Band, which operates a casino about 70 miles north of Medford, has been particularly outspoken in its objections. The tribe argues that the Medford casino would compete directly with their own gaming operations, potentially siphoning off vital revenue that supports their essential programs, such as housing, elder care, and education. They also contend that the Medford project would breach Oregon’s long-standing “one-tribe, one-casino” policy, which aims to prevent excessive expansion of tribal gaming in the state.

In response to the lawsuit, U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta ruled against the tribes’ request for a temporary injunction to halt the project. He determined that the Department of the Interior’s actions did not yet constitute a final decision and that the tribes must await further steps in the process. “Because the FEIS [Final Environmental Impact Study] is not a final agency action, the motion is denied,” Mehta stated in his ruling, Tribal Business News (TBN) reports.

The Coquille Tribe remains hopeful that this approval will set a precedent for other tribes seeking to expand their operations outside their traditional reservations. With a casino already operating at the Tribe’s Mill Casino in North Bend, approximately 170 miles from Medford, the proposed Medford location is seen as a crucial step in improving the Tribe’s economic standing and providing more resources for their citizens. Meade reiterated that the project would create thousands of jobs and provide vital services, such as community outreach through the Coquille Tribal Potlatch Fund, which aims to address needs in local communities.

While local leaders in Medford, such as City Councilor Kevin Stine, have expressed support for the project, citing its potential to generate jobs and bring new economic opportunities to the region, the Coquille Tribe must still navigate the continued opposition from other groups. As Willamette Week reported, among those opposing the project are Oregon’s senior U.S. Senators, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, who have criticized the decision, arguing that it will set a dangerous precedent for the future of tribal gaming in the state.

Wyden called the approval a “reckless choice” that could lead to an uncontrolled expansion of gambling in Oregon, undermining the careful balance that has been established between the state and its federally recognized tribes. “This reckless choice by D.C. bureaucrats catapults Oregon into an uncontrolled escalation of gambling with no end in sight,” Wyden said. “I will fight this senseless decision with all the options available.”

Despite the continued challenges, Meade remains optimistic about the future, emphasizing the long-term benefits that the Medford casino will bring to her Tribe and the broader region. She expressed hope that the federal government’s decision will signal a commitment to honoring tribal sovereignty and supporting the economic development of Indigenous nations.

“My hope is that this decision will spur the federal government to never do this to another tribe,” Meade said. “The decision finally offers heartening sign to all tribal advocates who have pushed for the government to meet its responsibilities and trust obligations.”