Cd'A Tribe honored for civil rights commitment
It is with great enthusiasm that we present the 2016 Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations Civil Rights Award to the Coeur d’Alene Tribe based on our four criteria of eligibility for the award.
The organization or individual has a long history of commitment to human rights issues and activities.
The organization or individual supports full equality for all persons and challenges attempts of society to grant selective equality.
The organization or individual demonstrates courage of their convictions in promoting and advancing human rights.
The organization or individual refuses to remain silent in the face of hate, prejudice, bigotry and discrimination.
We know of no individual, institution, or government that is more deserving of this award than the sovereign Coeur d’Alene Tribe. Lets take a look at just a few of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s many contributions to the people of the United States:
- The Tribe employs some 1,749 individuals making them the second largest employer in northern Idaho.
- The Tribe’s economic enterprises have an annual 330 million dollars economic impact on the region.
- The Tribe contributes annually 13 million dollars in state, county and local government taxes.
- The Tribe’s economic investments impact another 4,360 jobs in the region.
- The 2012 construction of the Benewah Medical Center at a cost of 17.3 million dollars serves around 6,000 patients a year of which half are not Tribe members.
- Starting in 1992 the Tribe volunteered to set aside five percent of its gaming revenue to support education. This program as of today has produced 21 million dollars to area schools, school districts, universities and colleges and nonprofits.
- During the construction of the Ray and Joan KROC Center in Coeur d’Alene, the Tribe donated $1 million to the project that now serves more than 16,000 members.
- The Coeur d’Alene Tribe has 2,400 enrolled members with the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Council having sovereign authority over the 345,000 acre reservation with 19 departments.
- During the 36 years of the existence of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, we have had the honor and privilege of partnering with the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Council to address and promote civil and human rights while working to combat bigotry, prejudice and discrimination in all its forms. Our joint support for social justice has included such examples as the passage in the 1980s of a series of Idaho statutes know as anti-hate crime legislation with then Idaho State Representative and Tribal member Jeanne Givens working for the enactment of the bills; supporting the passage of the 2013 City of Coeur d’Alene ordinance banning discrimination in public housing, employment, and public accommodations based on sexual orientation; and a partnership between the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, the Kootenai Electric Cooperative Foundation and our Task Force to fund an international anti-bullying expert to consult with the Coeur d’Alene School District in establishing a successful anti-bullying program that has become a model for other schools.
It is with great appreciation and thanks that we present our most prestigious award to the Coeur d’Alene Tribe at the 20th annual human rights banquet tonight.
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KCTFHR Board
Christie Wood, president
Tony Stewart, secretary