The Bureau of Indian Affairs, supposedly the advocate for the Cow Creek Umpquas, opposed the tribal endowment plan, and tried its best to force a per capita distribution of the money, even though past experience proved that per capita distribution was the worst possible course of action. The Bureau of Indian Affairs would not negotiate and never came up with an alternate plan.
The Cow Creek Umpquas had no choice but to appeal to Congress for relief from the BIA's heavy-handedness.
Public Law 100-139 (1987), the Cow Creek Umpqua "Distribution Judgment Funds Act", adopted the tribal endowment plan. The Bureau of Indian Affairs allowed the Tribe to use the settlement funds as collateral for the purchase of what was known as the "Evergreen" land. In addition, the tribe was allowed to draw the interest on their endowment for the purpose of economic development, education, housing, and elderly assistance.
As a result, the Tribe was able to open an Indian Bingo Hall in 1992 which, since then, has become a full-service Indian Resort and Gaming facility named Seven Feathers Hotel & Casino Resort. The resort is on the Cow Creek Umpqua Reservation, within the Tribe's traditional use area, along Interstate 5, as shown in Map 11.
For more information about current Cow Creek Umpqua businesses see the Umpqua Indian Development Corporation portion of this website.
