The Coeur d'Alene Tribe believes it was unfairly stung by a Press report published last weekend, then circulated widely by other media. The story detailed how the tribe no longer makes public disclosure of its gifts to educational entities in and around the reservation. According to the story, five local school districts contacted by The Press all indicated they had not received any funding from the tribe since it had decided two years ago not to announce its donations publicly.

The tribe says it has made donations as set forth in its gaming compact with the state of Idaho; a voter-approved agreement that requires the tribe to donate 5 percent of its net income from gambling to educational entities "on or near the reservation."

Exactly when those donations are made, and to whom, is completely up to tribal discretion, according to the tribe's spokesman, Helo Hancock. Hancock added that there was consternation among the tribe over what some felt was an unfair portrayal of the situation, and that insult was added to injury because The Press obviously was not taking tribal and Idaho Lottery officials' word at face value that the disbursements had been appropriately made.

We respect the rights accorded the Coeur d'Alene Tribe as a sovereign political entity. We graciously acknowledge that the tribe does much good in terms of employment, the environment and cultural enrichment. We also think this controversy provides an opportunity for better communication and increased understanding.

After years of ceremonies highlighting its educational donations, the tribe determined two years ago to stop disclosing its disbursements because of criticism from those who didn't receive checks or didn't get as much as they thought they should. If the decision to keep its disbursements secret happened to coincide with area school districts telling us they had not received any educational funds from the tribe during that same period, that's unfortunate. But it's also the stuff that raises eyebrows.

Late last month, the tribe fired David LeSarte-Meeks, the person overseeing its business operations and a highly respected individual who had just completed one of the most ambitious expansion projects in tribal history. As is certainly their right, the tribe opted not to explain that firing. It promptly rehired Dave Matheson, who had been fired from the same job in 2006. Was there a connection between that dramatic leadership switch and unanswered questions about state-mandated educational disbursements? We never said so, but certainly, skeptical eyebrows rose higher.

Further, the only oversight outside the reservation, the Idaho Lottery, acknowledges that it receives audits of the tribe's gaming revenues, but it does not track the tribe's educational disbursements. Only the tribe does that, so compliance with the gaming compact essentially boils down to blind trust.

While the tribe reminds us that it is within its prerogative to decide who gets money, how much and when, we remind the tribe that it is flourishing under a compact that was approved by Idaho voters in 2002. Trust flows both ways.

That's why we suggest that there's a difference between what the tribe has a right to disclose and what it is prudent to disclose.