Oregon Lottery ad campaign pulled following criticism from Coquille Tribe
COQUILLE, Ore. -- The latest Oregon Lottery ad campaign is being pulled from the airwaves in response to criticism from the Coquille Tribe.
In a letter to the director of the Oregon Lottery, tribal leaders described the ads as "offensive and insensitive."
The ads depict Lewis and Clark's discovery of Oregon territory.
In one of the ads they find lottery machines described as being "native to Oregon."
Tribal chairperson Brenda Meade says the ads are also "hypocritical."
Earlier this month, Governor Brown wrote a letter to the Bureau of Indian Affairs opposing the Tribe's plans for a new casino in Medford due to concerns about the expansion of gaming facilities.
"What's the difference between Indian gaming and the Oregon Lotto," Meade asks, "and why is proliferation of gaming being talked about when there are only nine tribes in this whole state of Oregon?"
Governor Brown responded to the Tribe's concerns about the ads.
"Clearly the ads were distressing and upsetting to Oregon's tribal communities. We pulled them," the Governor said.
A tribal spokesperson tells us the governor has not reached out to the Tribe about her decision to discontinue the ad.
