The Coeur d'Alene Tribe

10/14/2026

A special shoutout to young Coeur d’Alene Tribal member Dax Peone, who recently harvested his first buck and chose to share it with his community to honor his first harvest!

With guidance from his father, Daniel Peone, Dax helped skin, gut, hang, and prepare the deer. He later brought packages of meat to the teachers and staff at the Coeur d’Alene Tribal School to thank them for their support and visited the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Council Chambers to share his harvest and give thanks to Tribal leadership and his ancestors.

His parents, Daniel and Christina Peone, shared that they are teaching Dax the responsibilities that come with hunting, including taking only what you need, caring for the land, and making sure you can provide for your family and others in the community.

Great job, Dax! Congratulations on your first buck, and thank you to Daniel and Christina for teaching him the importance of our hunting traditions and giving back to our people!

10/05/2026

Congratulations to Coeur d’Alene Tribal member and Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort CEO Laura Penney, who was recently featured on the front page of the Coeur d’Alene Press!

The feature, “Hope and Opportunity,” looks back on Laura’s 33-year journey with the Casino, beginning when it first opened in 1993 and continuing through her role today as CEO.

“I was here day one,” Laura told the Coeur d’Alene Press. “I knew there was hope and opportunity for us as a tribe and as individuals. It’s been amazing to be part of it.”

Laura’s story highlights not only her career, but the growth of the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort and the opportunities it has created for the Coeur d’Alene people over the past three decades.

Congratulations, Laura! Great job, and thank you for your many years of leadership and service to the Coeur d’Alene Tribe.

Read Laura’s full feature in the Coeur d’Alene Press⁠:
https://cdapress.com/news/2026/sep/27/laura-penneys-33-year-journey-mirrors-growth-of-coeur-dalene-casino-resort/

09/29/2026

Congratulations to Chairman Chief Allan, who was recently honored with the 2026 NAFOA Lifetime Achievement Award, NAFOA’s highest distinction recognizing Native leaders who have dedicated their lives to strengthening their Nations and advancing Indian Country.

Chief Allan has served on the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Council for 23 years, including 20 years as Chairman. Throughout his leadership, he has helped guide the Tribe in areas including economic development, education, healthcare, environmental protection, and Tribal sovereignty while representing the Coeur d’Alene Tribe at the local, state, and federal levels.

NAFOA recognized Chief Allan for his years of leadership and dedication to the Coeur d’Alene people and Indian Country.
Congratulations, Chief, on this well-deserved recognition, and thank you for your continued service to the Coeur d’Alene people.

Picture from NAFOA Social Media: Pictured (left to right): Chairman Chief J. Allan (Coeur d’Alene Tribe) being presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by NAFOA Board President, Chairman Rodney Butler (Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation).

Read the full announcement from NAFOA⁠: https://nafoa.org/nafoa-honors-2026-lifetime-achievement-award-recipients-at-fall-conference/

09/23/2026

Two Honors Recognize Ernie Stensgar’s Lifetime of Leadership and Service.
September has been a month of recognition for longtime Coeur d’Alene Tribal leader Ernie Stensgar, who received two honors recognizing his decades of leadership, service to Indian Country, and commitment to his community.

On September 14, Stensgar was honored during the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) Conference in Snoqualmie, Washington, alongside three other longtime leaders for their years of service to ATNI and their work on behalf of Tribal communities throughout Indian Country.

Stensgar has a long history with ATNI, including previously serving as the organization’s president. The Coeur d’Alene Tribe continues to have strong representation within ATNI today, with Tribal members Jeanie Louie and Caj Matheson serving on the ATNI Board, continuing to represent the Coeur d’Alene people at the regional level. Rose Creek also represented the Tribe and sang to honor the leaders during the conference.

Just four days later, Stensgar received another major recognition closer to home. On September 18, he was presented with the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations Humanitarian Award for his decades of leadership and commitment to human rights.
Coeur d’Alene Mayor Dan Gookin also officially proclaimed September 18, 2026, as “Ernie Stensgar Day” in the City of Coeur d’Alene.

“Ernie is a person of outstanding integrity, passion, kindness, honesty, service to others and commitment to peacemaking,” Gookin said.

Stensgar served 45 years on the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Council, including serving as Chairman from 1986 to 2004. During the ceremony, he reflected on the values that guided him throughout those years.

“It wasn’t hard to speak out against racism and what was happening in our country,” Stensgar said. “My dear mother was very spiritual, and she taught me from an early age to treat people with respect, dignity and friendship.”

Stensgar also reflected on how much life has changed during his lifetime and what he sees ahead for the generations following him.

“I’ve been there in the dirt, no water, no house, chopping wood, no electricity. I lived through that and what we have today. I lived through inadequate medical care and inadequate education,” Stensgar said. “I look at my grandkids here and I see tomorrow. I see a greater America.”

Congratulations to Ernie Stensgar on two well-deserved honors and a lifetime of service to the Coeur d’Alene people, Indian Country, and the surrounding community.

09/01/2026

The Coeur d’Alene Tribe is supporting efforts by U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson to increase federal resources addressing the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons crisis and longstanding public safety and justice shortfalls across Indian Country.

“The issue has received more attention in recent years, and Congressman Simpson recognizes that serious problems require adequate funding,” Chairman Chief J. Allan told the Idaho Capital Sun. “While the focus on MMIP is critical, he also recognizes that the tragic situation is the direct result of decades of public safety and justice deficiencies across Indian Country.”

In an additional statement to Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Chief Allan adds:
“For the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, this is about protecting our people and making sure Tribal communities have the resources necessary to keep our families safe. We appreciate Congressman Simpson’s continued recognition that the federal government has a responsibility to address the public safety and justice shortfalls that have existed across Indian Country for far too long. Every missing or murdered Indigenous person represents a family and a community that has been impacted, and we have to continue working together to prevent these tragedies and ensure our people receive the same level of protection and justice as anyone else.”

The proposed federal budget includes increased funding for Tribal criminal investigations and police services, MMIP efforts, law enforcement initiatives, and forensic genealogy for unsolved cases.

Read the full story from the Idaho Capital Sun:

Idaho Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson is looking to boost federal funding to address the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons crisis.

08/28/2026

Saturday, August 29th the Distribution of the back to school bags and supplies will begin at 12pm and go until 4pm.

Next week we will be doing the back pack distribution starting Monday August 31st from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. as well as Tuesday September 1st and Wednesday September 2nd in the council chambers at the tribal headquarters in Plummer, Idaho. At this time we can only distribute bags to 6th – 12th grades. Bags for Pre-K – 5th grades will be arriving after September 8th and we will have to do different days of distribution for those grades. We will take names and phone numbers for those grades until we receive those bags. Sorry for the inconvenience. Also students will have to be registered at Lakeside and/or Tribal School in order to receive a bag. So, please get registered before picking up a bag.

Contact Andy Lansing or Kayla Gourneau with any questions.

08/02/2026

COMMUNITY NOTICE

Due to the ongoing wildfires in the Spokane area, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe is opening the Rose Creek Longhouse to anyone who has been displaced or needs a safe place to stay.

If you or someone you know has been affected by the fires and needs temporary shelter, the Longhouse is available.

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post with family, friends, and anyone who may need assistance during this time.

Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by the wildfires, and we hope all those affected stay safe.

07/01/2026

The Coeur d’Alene Tribe extends its appreciation to the Natural Resources Department staff, fisheries crews, and everyone who helped make the transfer and harvest possible. Their continued work supports salmon restoration efforts while providing meaningful opportunities for Tribal members to reconnect with an important part of the Tribe’s heritage.

06/18/2026

Reminder-

Take Pride In Your Tribe and the lake celebration will be happening tomorrow. The Tribal offices will be closed. Offices will reopen Monday June 22nd.

Busses will begin transporting from the Rose Creek Longhouse at 8:30a.m. and the last bus will leave the lake back to the longhouse at 4:00p.m.

If you're participating in the canoe journey, please meet at the Rose Creek Longhouse at 7:00a.m.

Bringing your own chair is encouraged as there will be limited seating.

05/29/2026

Update from Chairman Chief Allan:

“I am excited to share the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s latest business venture. We are partnering with Ahlquist to develop Peregrine – a new 920-acre industrial, commercial, and residential development in Elmore County, near the future site of the Shoshone-Paiute Resort and Casino.

The Treasure Valley is one of the fastest-growing regions in the country and this venture puts us at the center of the action.

Peregrine will create economic opportunity for our Tribal Members, bring thousands of potential customers to the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes’ first resort and casino, and open doors for businesses across Idaho.

I want to make it clear Peregrine does not change our partnership with the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes. We are still fully committed to helping our brothers and sisters open and operate their first resort and casino and the permitting process is moving forward. This new investment in the region is a reflection of our confidence in our partnership and the project. We are proud to be part of what’s coming to this region, and we look forward to keeping our members updated in the weeks and months to come.”

Called Peregrine, the new mixed-use plan would support the Sho-Pai casino and thousands of new homes planned of southeast of Micron.