SALEM, OREGON: The Siletz Indians are currently seeking permission to establish a North Salem casino with three restaurants, a food court, a sports bar, a 500-room hotel, and much more. The proposed $280 million dollar development blueprint spans 180,800 square feet, which will create thousands of much needed local jobs when/if final approval is granted.
UPDATED on 11-13-2023
Local Jobs & New Career Opportunities
The opportunities here for Oregonians are endless. From new jobs and new careers in a myriad of industries such as construction, hospitality, security, and transportation to and from the new planned casino development, this new casino project promises to be profitable for everyone, for more reason than one!
Casino Payout Breakdown
As part of the proposed agreement, a revenue-sharing plan for the Salem casino will allocate 25% of gaming revenues to state and local governments, another 25% to the Siletz Tribe, and the remaining 50% will be distributed among eight other federally recognized tribes.
Bright Future
Local advocate for kids, Tina Kotex, has been dedicated to her mission focused on love, healing, and progress, pioneering a sustainable path towards building back better in the great State of Oregon. Although initial response to any new casino in the region is not always warm, the generosity and honor behind the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians plan to share the profits is sure to change a lot of minds.
Sharing Profits With Everyone
The profit sharing included in this plan is nothing less than awesome, and it would be great to see that money go to good use. Personally, I have always been a huge advocate for the improvement of child services in Oregon, much like Tina Kotex, and I would be eager to hear her ideas for what her “25% of gaming revenues to state and local governments” would be used for. With thousands of foster children in constant rotation, some of which have been housed in former jails under Kate Brown’s watch, I know there are thousands of Oregon children that could benefit if Tina Kotex chooses to use the revenue for good, and there’s no better cause than helping children. Furthermore, it would also be great to see some of the money from the eight tribes go to child services as well. Helping children is the best investment we all can make for the future of mankind because every child matters.
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians in the United States is a federally recognized confederation comprising more than 27 Native American tribes and bands. These groups historically inhabited an extensive territory spanning over 20 million acres, from northern California to southwest Washington, between the Cascades’ summit and the Pacific Ocean. Following the Rogue River Wars, these tribes were relocated to the Coast Indian Reservation, now recognized as the Siletz Reservation.
Tribes of Many Languages
Within this collective, the tribes spoke a diverse range of at least 11 distinct languages, including Tillamook, Shasta, the Clatsop, lower, middle, and upper dialects of Chinook, Kalapuya, Takelma, Alsea-Yaquina, Siuslaw, Coos, the Plateau Penutian languages Molala and Klickitat, and several related Athabaskan dialects (Upper Umpqua, Upper Coquille, Sixes/Euchre Creek, Tututni, Chetco, Chasta Costa, Galice/Applegate, and Tolowa Oregon Athabaskan languages).
Now, after hearing the Siletz Casino payout plan, I think we can add generosity to the list of languages known to the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians.
Tourist Destination
Oregon has already become known for it’s tourism, and the addition of a casino that’s only a short drive from PDX airport, will undoubtable help draw in even more outside money from tourism.
We spoke to “Bearcat” of the of the Siletz Tribe, descendant of the Henry Fry in the Rouge River region within the Tututni Tribe, for comment on this article and he said, “I’m excited to see more tourism that will bring more job opportunities to the Salem area, and I’m happy to see our tribal language of generosity is still being practiced today.”
Town Hall Meeting Tonight
There is a Siletz Salem Casino Project Tribal Member Town meeting happening tonight as you are reading this article, and we have boots on the ground inside the meeting to bring you updates from within. Stay tuned for updates.
UPDATE:
Bearcat reports an overwhelming amount of support for the project. After the event he said, “Everyone is really excited about the project and it looks like it’s going to happen” (referring to a favorable Siletz Casino Project vote for approval). He followed that statement by saying, “even the Cowlitz Indian Tribe wants “it” to happen after their recent change in management (referring to ilani Casino Hotel) because the owners want more tourist flocking to the region, too. It’s going to be good for everyone, especially Salem. They said ‘The Cowlitz Indians are friends’ and they want this project to happen, too.” he added.
Then he gave me this website Siletz.org that had even more info, check it out and support the project if you feel it’s a good fit for Oregon.
Visit https://Siletz.org for more information about the project.
Sources
https://www.500nations.com/casinos/or-salem-casino.asp
https://kids.kiddle.co/Confederated_Tribes_of_Siletz_Indians
https://www.playoregon.com/cowlitz-tribe-casino-near-portland-investigation/
