The Cowlitz Tribe of Washington won federal recognition in 2000 and has been fighting for a reservation ever since. The tribe's land-into-trust application has been pending at the Bureau of Indian Affairs for more than three years. Though a draft environmental impact statement has been published, a final answer isn't expected until 2009 at the earliest. The tribe wants to use the 152-acre site in Clark County for a $500 million casino resort. The Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut is backing the effort. Opponents, including the Warm Springs Tribes of Oregon, say Clark County isn't the tribe's traditional homeland. Local residents also say the casino won't benefit the community, which is home to four non-Indian card clubs. Get the Story:
History and money color casino fight (The Seattle Times 2/27)