Thank you for your Aug. 21 editorial, “Know When to Fold ’em,” concerning the Ilani Casino Resort now under construction by the Cowlitz Tribe. The Editorial Board of The Columbian has made a mature decision to drop their opposition to the project. Concerns remain, but as stated in the editorial, it is time to shift efforts toward “mitigating those negatives.”
While the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde want to take the Cowlitz project to the U.S. Supreme Court, I think most lawyers would advise against filing suits designed to protect a “gambling monopoly” (for Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington) that is the result of federal government treaty-making mistakes in the mid-1800s. Look at the tribal casinos clustered around Puget Sound to see that protection of tribal gambling monopolies is not likely to appear on the Supreme Court’s agenda.
Many Clark County residents are looking forward to the casino. We already have the Cathlapotle Plankhouse at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. This was opened in 2005 to show Native American life along the Columbia River prior to arrival of European traders.
A community/nature center is now being planned for the refuge. The Ilani Casino Resort is less than 4 miles from the plankhouse; hopefully, displays at the casino will help explain Cowlitz tribal history to area visitors and residents.
