COWLITZ INDIAN TRIBE ACHIEVEMENTS
For the Cowlitz Tribe, which had only recently achieved federal recognition after a decades-long struggle, the partnership with Mohegan helped turn a vision for economic independence into reality.
From the outset, Mohegan’ s role extended beyond traditional management, bringing operational expertise, leadership development, hospitality standards and marketing capabilities that helped establish ilani as a leading entertainment destination and major economic driver in Southwest Washington.
In 2023, the Cowlitz Tribal Council announced its transition to self-management as the management agreement reached its natural conclusion. Both tribes characterized the move not as an ending, but as the intended outcome of years of collaboration and capacity-building.
The transition reflects tribal partnership at its best: one tribe sharing its expertise to help another build a sustainable enterprise that stands on its own.