Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Coquille Tribe’s casino illegal?
In its final days in office, the Biden Administration approved the Coquille Tribe’s casino in Medford, Oregon. This allowed the Coquille Indian Tribe to bypass the same process that all other Tribes in Oregon must follow, which is a violation of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).
Does the Coquille Tribe have ancestral ties to Medford?
No. The Coquille Tribe cannot document any villages or occupation of the Rogue River Valley. The Tribe has based their aboriginal claim to land on an erroneous and self-serving report that has been discredited by respected historians.
How would this casino negatively impact Medford?
The Coquille Tribe’s illegal casino will only make Medford’s existing challenges worse. It will worsen gambling addiction, bankruptcies, and financial hardship, exacerbating poverty, homelessness, and mental health issues while increasing crime and straining public safety and law enforcement resources.
Who is against the Coquille Tribe’s Medford casino?
Elected officials, including Senators Wyden and Merkley, Congressmen Blumenauer, Huffman, and Salinas, and Governor Kotek, have all spoken out in opposition to the illegal casino, alongside multiple Tribal nations and thousands of concerned citizens.
Who is behind Medford United?
Medford United is an initiative by concerned citizens including the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians to ensure Medford has a say in its future.