Native Tribes are Vital Employers in Central and South Central Oregon

Native tribes play a crucial role in Oregon’s economy. Oregon’s nine tribes provide jobs, goods and services, gaming opportunities, and community investment. All nine Oregon tribes are capitalizing on gaming to help bolster tribal government funding for the native community. However, economic activity is not limited to the nine casinos throughout the state, as thousands of Oregonians are employed by tribal governments, health clinics, and independent businesses owned by tribal members.

There are two tribal groups in Central and South Central Oregon. The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (Wasco, Warm Springs, and Paiute tribes) live on and govern the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, which primarily sits within Jefferson and Wasco counties. The Klamath Tribes (Klamath, Modoc, and Yahooskin tribes) are a group that resides in South Central Oregon in the Klamath Basin.

The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs are a very large employer in Jefferson County as they account for approximately 20 percent of total nonfarm employment in the county, or more than 1,200 jobs. The Klamath Tribes account for a much smaller percentage of Klamath County’s total employment (2%), but the tribe still accounts for nearly 400 jobs.

For more on tribal employment in Central and South Central Oregon, see Damon Runberg's full report.