COUNTY: Continued mistreatment of tribe

To the Kootenai County Board of Commissioners: The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations Executive Committee on behalf of the Board of Directors is both shocked and amazed at your unwise decision to appeal the decision of the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs to place 142.56 Coeur d’Alene Tribal acres into trust land status for the first time in 30 years. Your decision defies logic, fairness and a good neighbor policy.

You are opposing the annual loss of $9,900 or .0001 percent of a county budget of $73 million while ignoring the tremendous annual financial contributions of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. Let us be specific with a few examples:

1. Last year the Plummer-Worley School District received $1.085 million from the United States Impact program as compensation for loss of property tax revenue due to Indian tribal trust lands.

2. The Coeur d’Alene Tribe is contributing $1,000,000 to the Kroc Center through annual payments of $100,000. The Kroc Center serves over 20,000 people.

3. The Coeur d’Alene Tribe donates over $1,000,000 annually to area schools.

4. The Coeur d’Alene Tribe provides $1.1 million for Citylink, providing free transportation to our citizens.

5. The Coeur d’Alene Tribe in 2009 spent $2.9 million on roads and transportation.

6. The Coeur d’Alene Tribe gave $500,000 to local charities last year.

7. The Coeur d’Alene Tribe spends $500,000 a year on The Coeur d’Alene Lake that is enjoyed by all our citizens.

8. The Coeur d’Alene Tribe employs over 1,700 people that provides a $309 million annual economic impact to our region. We need not remind you that these employees own property and pay county property taxes.

We see your decision as yet another example of a long history of unfair treatment of Native Americans.

We urge you to pause and appreciate the tremendous economic and culture contributions provided by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe to our state, the Pacific Northwest and the United States. You can demonstrate your gratitude and appreciation of the Coeur d’Alene people by reversing your decision.

TONY STEWART

Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations

Executive Committee