LEWISTON - It's being called a breakthrough in relations between the Nez Perce Tribe and State of Idaho.

"Folks, this truly is a historic day," said Idaho Governor Butch Otter, paying a visit to the Clearwater River Hotel and Casino on Wednesday.

After 14 years without the sale of state lottery tickets on the reservation, Governor Butch Otter and Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee Chairman Sam Penney signed a compact to allow that to happen.
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“When I was campaigning for governor, that was to build a much better relationship between the state of Idaho and the Nez Perce Tribe and we've done that,” said Otter. “In fact, with this historic day for us, I can tell you that we have solved a lot of problems that laid on fallow ground for far too long.

The compact will be forwarded to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne and the National Indian Gaming Commission for additional signatures.

“We believe this agreement will be beneficial not only to the Nez Perce Tribe but to the communities throughout the Nez Perce Reservation,” said Penney. “It's been almost 14 years since a lottery operated within the Nez Perce Reservation and we believe that it will be not only beneficial to the Tribe but to the students in this area.