RIDGEFIELD, Wash. (KOIN) — Tribal leaders honored their history on Thursday and marked a big milestone on the road to the future.
Cowlitz Native Americans raised a flag alongside the United States flag and the State of Washington flag at the Ilani Casino, in a symbolic gesture. It’s the first time in 150 years a Cowlitz flag has flown above tribal land.
The raising of the flag also marked the ribbon cutting on a new Meeting and Entertainment Center.
Tribal leaders say big moves forward like this will help them help tribal members.
“Now we have our own reservation, it’s a foundation now, just the beginning. We can do so much with this. It’s 156 acres, but when you think about the opportunity, there’s so much that can be done,” a Cowlitz Native American told KOIN 6 News.
