1 • Cowlitz Tribal News • Fall 2019 Yooyoolah COWLITZ “One who calls” Fall 2019 Tribal News EIGHTH EDITION Cowlitz Tribe Education and Arts Funds Before more than a decade Clark County Council ordinance in 2007 Grant recipients of litigation and acrimony, Chairwoman Eileen Quiring intended to ease A variety of organizations were awarded grants in the first round of awards from the Cowlitz Tribe made a and Councilor Temple Lentz, the anticipated the Cowlitz Tribe Education and Arts Fund. promise to Clark County. the county’s representatives effects of the Late last month, it kept an on the board, said the grant casino. Under the • $5,000 for a one-year grant to the Northwest Film Forum for the development element of that promise. process strengthened the ordinance, the tribe of the film “Buffalo Soldiers of the Pacific Northwest.” The tribe’s Educationrelationship between the agreed to reimburse • $10,000 for a three-year grant to the Ridgefield Lions Club for students and Arts Fund awarded county and tribe. Karissa the county for law in grades 5-8 to manage a 2-acre wetland as part of a collaborative project in $409,000 to seven nonprofit Lowe, chairwoman of enforcement on partnership with the Ridgefield School District and Watershed Alliance of the fund’s board, said it tribal lands and Southwest Washington. organizations in Clark was a chance to build on lost property tax County. The awards are existing community ties. revenue, while also • $25,000 for a one-year grant to Columbia Springs for its on-site education the first made under a program in 2019-20. commitment the tribe made “We’ve been a part of complying with in 2007 to share the benefits this community since health regulations • $50,000 for a two-year grant to Friends of the Ridgefield National Wildlife from ilani, the casino time immemorial. We are and contributing Refuge to hire a part-time volunteer coordinator to oversee volunteers for cultural financially and environmental education, habitat restoration and visitor services. resort the tribe opened in the Forever People, and to a problem 2017 outside of La Center. we want to be part of this gambling program. • $200,000 for a four-year grant to the Clark County Family YMCA to construct community,” Lowe said. a full-service YMCA family facility in Battle Ground. The decision to award the The ordinance grants was made by a five- The ilani casino wasalso committed the • $350,000 for a three-year grant to the Cascade Forest Conservancy to expand member board comprised widely opposed by local outreach and education for environmental initiatives in Southwest Washington. of representatives from governments in Clark tribe to pay 2% of both Clark County and County out of concerns for its net revenues from • $350,000 for a three-year grant to the Mount St. Helens Institute to expand its the tribe. It signals the potential impact on housing, gaming on tribal STEM education programs. Cowlitz Tribe and Clark traffic and the environment. lands to an arts and education fund to specified that two members the fifth being picked by the County are forging a more In response, the Cowlitz collaborative relationship. be overseen by a five-member would be from the county other four board members. Tribal Council passed an board. The ordinanceand two from the tribe, with continued on pg 9 Chairman’s Corner we should expect to face new After the second anniversary of completing the Parking Garage KLAHOWYA, challenges. We must honor and the opening, ilani continues to in the fall of 2020, we plan to pay tribute to those who have grow and prosper our business move to the groundbreaking for We look forward to the helped us reach this point of as the premier gaming, dining, the ilani Hotel—a 4–star hotel November 2nd Fall General growth. meeting and entertainment with 300 rooms, conference Council meeting at ilani in the Constitution Amendment destination in the Pacificfacilities, and with additional Cowlitz Ballroom. Thank you Northwest. We are growing the restaurants. for the dedicated volunteers, In June we considered a development on the reservation The Cowlitz Tribal Gaming boards, committees, staff and change in the way elections with, the meeting and event Tribal Council members who are conducted. The ballot as Commission diligently continues center and the Cowlitz Ballroom, the regulatory oversight of ilani, work hard for the wellbeing of presented did not pass by a the Cowlitz Tobacco Outlet, and the Tribe. margin of 3 votes. There were as they licensed all our vendors Cowlitz Crossing gas station and and team members. We will We look to our bright future many comments and questions convenience store—opened on of the structure of the ballot. forever be grateful for our and open a new chapter April 20th. See more details on partnerships with the Mohegan in serving tribal members. Tribal Council discussed the page 23. issue further and a simplified Tribe, and the lending groups We continue to meet many Phase II construction has as we embark on a new period challenges and working amendment will be presented at the November meeting. begun for overflow parking of prosperity and cooperation. together, we prevail. As we and now the ground breaking We continue to build positive grow and prosper together, ilani Casino for the Parking Garage. After continued on pg 2 2 • Cowlitz Tribal News • Fall 2019 Chairman’s Corner Continued from the front page Building the Cowlitz Community for local police forces responding Nov. 2, 2019 @10am to such cases. The Cowlitz tribe relationships with federal, state and Government Center on the reservation will support all tribal will work to further this cause General Council Meeting and local governments, and with wherever we can with the state, our neighbors. programs leveraging grant funds and low interest tax-free financing. federal and local governments. Tribal members seeking ilani Casino Comprehensive Plan Rosalie Fish (Cowlitz) from employment at ilani can apply the Muckleshoot High School on-line or contact Kara Fox- We will be holding town hall won three state titles in track at Cowlitz Ballroom LaRose, President and General meetings with the membership the 2019 WIAA State Track and Manager, or Al Muma, Vice in the near future, and meeting Field event hosted at Eastern 1 Cowitz Way President for HR. We have in a retreat with Tribal Council Washington University—all Ridgefield, WA 98642 implemented a Cowlitz Tribal and continue meeting with all while raising awareness and member development program parts of the Tribal organization advocating for Missing and at ilani for all employed Tribal in the Strategic Planning, Boards, Murdered Indigenous Women Enrollment Card & photoo ID required members to gain the needed basic Committees, Departments, (MMIW). Her powerful prerequisites for advancement as Program units, to better statement was amplified by a red- Questions P: (360) 577-8140 part of the long-term program to implement our Comprehensive painted handprint covering her help prepare the next generation Plan. This is a long-term plan. The mouth and the letters MMIW Need a ride? of leaders for ilani Casino. tribal council is guided by the plan painted down her right leg and Sports Wagering to evaluate and prioritize services reported by ESPN, USA Today Event Transport through a strategic planning across the country. Park & Ride style transport service I testified in support of HB 1975, process for all tribal members legalization for sports wagering using strategic initiatives to Please remember and pray for Pick up Location Board Depart in Washington that would limit improve our operations to better Esther Marie Smith, Cowlitz who sports wagering to gaming facilities has been missing since 2008. St. Mary’s deliver services. 700 Spencer Rd., Toledo 7:50 AM 8:00 AM operated by federally recognized In Closing Indian tribes under terms of a Natural Resources Cowlitz Admin. Office 8:40 AM 8:50 AM gaming compact between the tribe We are also working on the Sea The Cowlitz Indian Tribe’s 1055 9th Ave, Longview and the state. The bill passed out Lion issue, on the Lewis River Fish 160-year journey back to our of the Commerce and Gaming Passage to ensure full fish passage, homeland restores Cowlitz Arrival time at ilani 9:20 am Tribal heritage and traditions Committee. That’s a big step as and on a dam removal project in ONE Return trip will be 15-20 minutes after the meeting. we prepare to work in the next the upper Washougal Watershed. allowing us to unite and thrive, legislative session. I have met with Most importantly we are working here, on our own reservation. We RSVP is required to guarantee your seat several key legislators to further on the process to restore our must come together as a tribal this measure in the next legislative hunting and fishing rights.family, now more than ever, for Cowlitz Tribal Transit P: 360.232.8585 session. The Gathering Program in the the benefit of future generations. Community and Gifford Pinchot National Forest Together, we continue a new Free, though donations are greatly appreciated Government Center allows us to collect huckleberries, chapter in Cowlitz history. mushrooms, and firewood for A.M.R. Chairman Bill Iyall We are still in the planning your use with the free permit. process for the reservation, which would include a new Tribal Center, SW Washington Regional a future Cultural Community Transportation Council Vice Chairman’s Report Center-Museum, RV park, I have accepted a seat on The Cowlitz Reservation department and will be a great potential elder housing, and more the Board of Directors of the is now three acres larger, addition to our Public Safety diverse economic development.