Page 4 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - January, 2019

4

DISTILLERY destination with a spirits tasting
room, brewery taproom and
From page 1 restaurant under one roof. The
35,000-square-foot building
alcohol or what was called at
the time “ardent spirits” on shares a parking lot with the
reservations. It was United States tribe’s Fairfield Inn & Suites,
Code 25, section 2141. It read as which opened in January 2018.
follows: The brewery will have a
“Every person who shall, 60-barrel brewing system with
within the Indian country, set an annual capacity of 18,000
up or continue any distillery for barrels. The distillery will be the
manufacturing ardent spirits, shall largest craft distillery west of the
be liable to a penalty of $1,000; Mississippi River with a capacity
and the superintendent of Indian of 7,700 barrels of whiskey and 1.5
affairs, Indian agent, or subagent, million gallons of vodka and gin.
within the limits of whose agency Additionally, the tribe has
any distillery of ardent spirits signed a letter of intent with South
is set up or continued, shall Puget Sound Community College
forthwith destroy and break up Rye and Hops will take the Chehalis Tribe into the future with retail to offer coursework that would
the same.” outlets, a spirits tasting room, brewery taproom, restaurant and allow students to earn a certificate
Simply put, the federal numerous alcohol distribution opportunities. in brewing and distilling programs.
government would charge a This project is not just exciting.
fine of $1,000 and bust up your The BIA agreed to issue a letter and distillery on the reservation. It will be profitable for the tribe.
still – like Elliott Ness during that it would NOT refer a case It is hard to understand why Chehalis Tribal Enterprises is
Prohibition. to the United States Attorney for this law passed through Congress. developing distribution networks
Plans on hold manufacturing distilled spirits on It usually takes years for a law to in Indian Country and throughout
the Chehalis Reservation and it go from drafting a bill to being the United States to distribute
This law, from its passage 185 would also support the legislation. signed by the president. In fact, products to stores, casinos,
years ago until present day, has This left the decision up to many in Washington, D.C., noted restaurants and lounges. Future
never been enforced. However, Congress. that one of the few pieces of plans could be exporting products
in 2015, the Chehalis Tribe and In March of 2018, legislation that passed faster than overseas to markets in Europe and
Heritage Distilling out of Gig representatives of the Chehalis House Resolution 5317 was the Asia. Financial projections have
Harbor began talking about Tribe met with Rep. Jaime Patriot Act right after the Sept. 11, revenues of more than $2 million
partnering on a project to build a Herrera-Buetler and Sen. 2011, attacks on the World Trade per year.
destination restaurant, brewery Maria Cantwell, who represent Center and the Pentagon. The Chehalis Tribe helped draft
and distillery. the Chehalis Reservation in and pass this legislation, bringing
The tribe identified a piece Washington, D.C. They both Unique project Democrats and Republicans
of land, hired an architect to quickly agreed to support a bill to So, again, why was this together in Washington, D.C., for a
draw up plans and was ready repeal the prohibition. important? Just to build a brief moment.
to break ground on the project On March 15, Rep. Buetler distillery? Not just any distillery. This will not only allow
when a letter arrived from the introduced House Resolution 5317 The new concept called Rye the Chehalis Tribe to create a
BIA informing the tribe that the into Congress. and Hops combines a craft distillery, but has legalized the
distillery was illegal. Chairman Harry Pickernell brewery and distillery with retail distilling of spirits throughout
Since 1834, Congress has Sr. testified in both the House of outlets. This will create a unique Indian Country.
repealed most of the old 1834 Representatives and the Senate
laws. The restaurant and brewery in support of the bill, which was
parts were made legal long ago. quickly passed in committee and
But, in repealing old laws, the then moved onto the floor of the
prohibition of distilling alcohol House of Representatives.
was forgotten. Sen. Cantwell introduced a Rites of Passage
Perhaps this was because companion bill into the Senate but
it has never been enforced or quickly agreed to champion the JULY 2019
maybe everyone thought the 21st House bill in the Senate because
amendment repealing prohibition a bill that has already passed the Chehalis tribal youth
in the U.S. took care of it. The opposite house has fewer steps to ages 12-17 will enjoy an
reason is unknown, but it was become law and would expedite
still a law and the BIA was there the process. It passed out of inaugural four-day journey
to ensure that the tribe took the committee and by unanimous on the Chehalis River
proper steps. consent on the Senate floor. this summer. Classes
Ten days later, on Dec.
Changing the law 11, President Trump added and training will prepare
Faced with the fact that his signature to make House participants, who will
operating a distillery would be Resolution 5317 the law of the paddle miles each day,
illegal, the tribe began efforts land. camp and fish!
to change the law. Passing or
changing a law is a lengthy Moving forward CONTACT
process. The tribe started with the Distilling ardent spirits is
United States Attorney’s Office no longer prohibited in Indian Call Russ Baker at 360-709-1826 or Leroy Boyd
and the BIA to seek a written Country. The Chehalis Tribe is at 360-709-1787 in the Events Department by Feb. 28
exemption from the 1834 law now able to move forward with if you would like to participate or volunteer
while working with Congress on plans to build and operate a
legislative matters. destination restaurant, brewery