COVID-19 relief funds need to be administered quickly – and fairly – to Native American tribes, say Oregon lawmakers. As KLCC’s Brian Bull reports, Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden want stimulus aid to not adhere to a population-based formula.
The Oregon Democrats argue that such a formula limits tribes’ abilities to help their respective communities. Most are small, scattered, and in rural areas where infrastructure and services are often underfunded and dated. Senator Wyden:
“The tribes have been hit very hard, both from a health and economic standpoint.”
Chris Mercier is a tribal councilmember with the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde. He says because of pandemic measures, they’ve had to close down their casino which was their primary economic generator.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty and we feel comfortable with where we’re at right now," Mercier tells KLCC.
"But staying closed indefinitely could have some pretty dire consequences for our tribal government.”
Mercier says he’s not sure what form direct aid from the federal government will look like, just that they’re hoping it arrives soon. He adds that the tribe's gas station and convenience store also provide revenues, but it's "nowhere near" what the casino provides.
Copyright 2020, KLCC.