Over the last four years, the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde have been forced to defend its interests because of Gov. Ted Kulongoski's change in longstanding state policy that allowed Native American casinos only on reservation lands. But The Oregonian's recent article about the tribe's political activities ("Tribe takes gamble in turf war," June 27) failed to note that a positive alternative exists to this policy that would be good for tribes and all Oregonians.

Of course a competing casino close to Portland at Cascade Locks in the Columbia River Gorge would harm the Grand Ronde. It would likely force us to make deep cuts in health care and other programs vital to the well-being of our members. That's one reason we oppose it. But a gorge casino is also bad for all Oregonians, which is why polls consistently show most Oregonians oppose it and why a broad coalition of environmental, small-business and pro-family organizations also oppose it.

The proposed gorge casino might be Oregon's first off-reservation casino, but you can bet it won't be the last. In 1996, the Grand Ronde approved a resolution opposing off-reservation casinos. We knew then what Congress is learning today: Unless casinos are limited exclusively to tribal lands -- for the benefit of tribal members and surrounding communities -- the lust for money will lead casinos closer and closer to major cities.

Already, while Congress considers banning off-reservation casinos, tribes have filed applications for casinos in Wilsonville and in Ontario, just a 30-minute drive from Boise. In addition, a Connecticut-based tribe is financing a huge casino in Clark County, just minutes from downtown Portland, and private gambling interests are using the specter of expanded Native American gaming as a rationale for building a casino in East Multnomah County. Off-reservation gaming undermines the purpose of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act -- to promote development of strong reservation economies through on-reservation casinos.

The Grand Ronde's Spirit Mountain Casino is the largest employer in Polk County and one of the largest employers in the Willamette Valley. Hundreds of families rely on the Grand Ronde for their livelihoods. Local governments in this area also benefit considerably from the tribe and its casino. If a gorge casino -- or any other casino in the Portland area -- is approved, hundreds of jobs and millions in revenue in Willamette Valley communities will be put at risk.

But a positive alternative exists. We can limit casino expansion by returning to the state's previous policy that allows each Oregon tribe to have one casino on reservation lands. Further, we call on all Oregon tribes, the governor and our congressional delegation to join us in supporting federal legislation banning all off-reservation casinos currently not approved by the Department of Interior -- making a Portland-area casino off limits to any tribal casino. In turn, the Grand Ronde will help finance a new casino for the people of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs on its 640,000 acres of reservation land in Central Oregon.

A Central Oregon casino would be successful, located in the fastest-growing area of our state, and enjoy access to tourists traveling to Central Oregon's many destination resorts.

Most important, an on-reservation casino in Central Oregon, rather than an off-reservation casino in the Columbia River Gorge, would be good for the people of Warm Springs by providing more revenue for tribal programs and would be good for all Oregonians by preventing an explosion of off-reservation casinos across our state.

Cheryle Kennedy is chairwoman of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde.