Stop the Nisqually Jail (SNJ) would also like you to include the following in your consideration to STOP the construction of the Nisqually Indian Regional Public Safety Complex. 

The 1854 Treaty with the Nisqually Indian Tribe states in Article 8

“The aforesaid tribes and bands acknowledge their dependence on the Government of the United States, and promise to be friendly with all citizens thereof, and pledge themselves to commit             no depredations on the property of such citizens. And should any one or more of them violate this pledge, and the fact be satisfactorily proved before the agent, the property taken shall be returned, or in default thereof, or if injured or destroyed, compensation may be made by the Government out of their annuities. …”

SNJ would like to acknowledge that the proposed Nisqually Indian Regional Public Safety Complex will cause “depredation on the property of such citizens.”

If you look at the Project Summary at the Recovery.Gov track the money web site it shows $2,000,000 received by the Nisqually Indian Tribe and that the Nisqually Tribe has expended $2,000,000. How can this be when vertical construction has not even begun? Where is this money going?

Award Date 09/21/2009
Award Number 2009-ST-B9-0095
Order Number
... Award Type Grants
Funding Agency ID 15
Funding Agency Name Department of Justice
Funding Office Name Not Available
Awarding Agency ID 15
Awarding Agency Name Department of Justice
Amount of Award $10,720,232
Funds Invoiced/Received $2,052,104
Expenditure Amount $2,052,104

http://www.recovery.gov/Transparency/RecipientReportedData/Pages/RecipientProjectSummary508.aspx?AwardIDSUR=48785&qtr=2011Q3

The Nisqually Regional Jail is referred to as a LUCRATIVE operation is book: The Bitter Waters of Medicine Creek.

Please read the book: The Bitter Waters of Medicine Creek by Richard Kluger. This book is an incredible book that clearly depicts the tragic confrontations between the Native Americans and the white settlers specifically between: 1853 to 1857. At the end of this book the author updates current happenings for the Nisqually Indian Tribe. This book has a copy write date of 2011.  Close to the end of this book, on Page # 293, Kluger describes the current proposed Nisqually Regional Jail.  The jail is referred to as: " "Another part of Iyall's (Current Chairwoman for the Nisqually Indian Tribe) entrepreneurial policy called ... to expand the LUCRATIVE operation (their jail) to 250 or more beds." Why is a jail referred to as 'Lucrative'? This is clearly a For Profit Jail. After learning more about the injustices that were imposed upon the Native Americans it does not justify currently to plan to build a “jail for profit” in a residential area without proper notification!

Possible Two Empty Jails in Thurston County?

Casino Blocked in Columbia River Gorge, Oregon

Cascade Locks, Oregon has been under the gun for a proposed casino for over 12 years. Cascade Locks is in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge surrounded by the National Scenic Area. Threats did not stop our group, NO Gorge Casino, from fighting it constantly. The property the tribe wanted was located in the Port industrial park right next to the Columbia River. It consisted of 35 acre and 25 acre parcels. What started out as just a small casino ended up being the size of several super Walmarts, plus a resort hotel, plus huge parking lots. They have held up development in this town for 12 years. My opinion is that other companies did not want to locate in or near a casino town. In the meantime we lost our high school, our middle school, two churches and several businesses. People moved out of town, not only because of the economy, or no jobs, but because they did not want to raise their families in a casino town.

The powers that be put all of their eggs in two baskets, one the casino/resort & the other a Nestle water bottling plant. Neither of these projects would be good for our little town of less than 1,000. The MOU that the tribe put together, and presented to the town was full of “mays” and “ifs” and of course was signed by the mayor at that time. It would have turned the town over to the tribe for pie in the sky. The former Governor signed a compact with the tribe and left office before the DOI approved anything (thank God).

The new Governor, John Kitzhaber, is totally against an off reservation casino and especially one in the Gorge near the National Scenic area and would not approve it. They tried to go around him, give everyone the old guilt trip and were in bed with the BIA and the DOI. I am elated to say that none of their efforts worked. The new Port Commission refused to vote them another lease option extension.

The tribe is not happy. Should they decide to try again it will cost them plenty. Their FEIS is out of date and the data must be updated. The EIS cost them over $20 million the first time.

Things started going downhill for the proposed casino when the tribe wanted to build an overpass into the industrial park. That would have entailed closing the East freeway entrance into town, basically cutting us off. People in town started doubting the lies being told. There would have been major environmental problems.

NO Gorge Casino worked hard at getting everyone to write letters to the editor stating the facts. When the
BIA came to town for a review and supposedly to hear from the citizens, the venue was taken up with tribal members bused into town with many wearing their finery for the TV cameras. We gathered citizens and kids together & picketed the entrance to the park where they were meeting. We were very visible. A special thanks from our group to Elaine Willman, CERA Board member, and Philip Brendale for attending two round tables in Cascade Locks. Their expertise and encouragement was so greatly appreciated. Every group needs a shot in the arm.

Everywhere they held meetings we were there with signs and speakers. With the enormous help of the conservation group Friends of the Gorge we held meetings and fought hard. To encourage people to come to our meetings we had picnics, potluck dinners preceding meetings, beer & wine parties & even a seminar. We started out trying to meet in the different towns in the Gorge and getting their officials to write letters against the casino. The traffic would affect the Gorge on both sides of the river. Everyone was encouraged to participate. Sometimes we would only have 3 people show up, but that did not stop us. We sent out a colored flyer to all residents with a simple question (are you for or against a casino?). It contained statements on the damage to the environment, the questionable improvement to the economy, etc. The truth is that it was about 50/50. We did door-to-door surveys. Finally, we voted in new people to the Port Commission. They were against the casino and also the lack of development and jobs in the last 12 years. They voted down the additional option extension for another 3 months. If the tribe wanted the land they would have had to come up with over a million dollars by midnight on January 4th. It did not happen. We are so happy we can’t stand ourselves, and we are getting ready to party hearty. We deserve it, as it has been a long haul.

FYI we were like panhandlers asking for signatures on petitions and for donations. We set up booths at fairs, parades & any event where there would be a crowd. Orders were placed for printed banners, pins, stickers & bumper stickers. We campaigned for those seeking office that were against a casino.

Our best wishes to any groups who are still fighting their tribes and proposed casinos and those just starting out. It is hard work. Try to get your elected officials off their chairs to help you. Any town, group, or citizens that would be affected should be contacted, given the true facts, and asked to help. You can do it!
WE DID IT AND ARE PROUD!

Elaine D. Willman, Director
Community Development
and Tribal Affairs
Village of Hobart
2990 South Pine Tree Road
Hobart, WI 54155
W: 920.869.3806
C: 920.615.2882
Email: elaine@hobart-wi.org
Web: www.hobart-wi.org

Village of Hobart, WI

www.hobart-wi.org

XYZZA

Our grass roots organization, Stop the Jail Association continues to be aggressive in the fight to stop or block the proposed Nisqually Jail from being built in the location at the corner of Yelm Highway SE and Hwy. 510. Last week, January 6, 2012, we met at the site with a representative from Congressman Adam Smith's office. They are at this time drafting how their office can or can not assist us in our fight. Our "do over" letter to the Bureau of Indiana Affairs has been forwarded to a Montana office for review. In this "do over" letter we stated that the community was NOT properly notified of the project and that the environmental assessment for this proposed project was not sufficient. We also demanded in this letter that the project be stopped until a proper Environmental Impact Statement be completed - which when performed we would anticipate would not be approved.

We have been approached by someone in the community who wishes to back our organization and is contributing $17,000. Once again we are asking the community to consider contributing to our attorney, Bricklin and Newman in Settle to file an injunction. Our attorney stated we would need at least $40,000 for this case. If we are not able to stop this project from being built at this location our property values will anticipate will decrease substantially.

Contact us directly and remember time is of the essence. Continue to read our blog or facebook page for updates. Included on these sites is a documents site where we have scanned all of the documents we have compiled from various agencies, local and Federal. http://stopnisquallyjail.blogspot.com/ and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stop-the-Nisqually-Jail/216783311692402?sk=wall

Thank you for your support,


Stop the Jail Association
4570 Avery Lane SE
PMB#145 Suite C
Lacey, Wa.
# (360)239-4898

     

Nisqually Indian Tribe Grants

Track the Money

Meeting at proposed site with Congressman Smith's staff

After months of asking Congressman Adam Smith's office for help to stop the construction of the Nisqually Jail, we realized they had never been out to the proposed site physically. We have asked, a community outreach manager, Debra Entenman to come to the proposed jail site to see firsthand the effects being caused by this project. The meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, 11 A.M., January 6, 2012 at the site: 11702 Yelm Highway SE. Olympia, Washington. 98513.