The Coeur d’Alene Tribe is partnering with the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes on a resort and casino along I-84 halfway between Boise and Mountain Home.
This project will reconnect tribal members to their ancestral homelands and provide them with an important tool for self-reliance and tribal sovereignty, a press release said.
“We have experienced the transformative power of gaming and we are honored to be able to help our brothers and sisters secure those same benefits,” Coeur d’Alene Chairman Chief Allan said in a press release Wednesday.
The Coeur d’Alene Tribe, which has successfully run gaming operations in Idaho for more than 30 years, will provide a large upfront investment to help with the permitting and development process.
Once the resort and casino is built, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe will enter into a management contract with the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes to work together “to ensure the resort and casino delivers an exceptional gaming experience and benefits tribal members and Idahoans alike,” the release said.
For decades, the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes have been the only tribe in Idaho without revenue from tribal gaming.
“I dream of a future where our members have the resources, education, healthcare and employment opportunities they need to care for their families and preserve our way of life. A future where our children have hope and believe the best days are still ahead of them,” said Shoshone-Paiute Chairman, Brian Mason.
He said the tribe has no meaningful economic opportunities and is facing challenges because of it.
“We want to solve our own problems and provide for our people. Tribal gaming will allow us to make these dreams into a reality,” Mason said in the release.
The proposed resort and casino is estimated to generate tens of millions of dollars annually for Idaho’s economy and create thousands of well-paying jobs, the release said. The Shoshone-Paiute Tribes also plans to dedicate 5% of net gaming revenues to support education.
On the Duck Valley Indian Reservation, tribal members currently face exceptionally high rates of suicide and unemployment, the release said. The Shoshone-Paiute community also struggles to provide emergency services due to its remote location.
“The challenges we face daily are not insurmountable. We simply need resources to invest in long-term solutions for our people,” Mason said. “Gaming will give us the tools we need to strengthen our community, grow our infrastructure and provide more opportunities to our youth for generations to come.”
The project will be located on ancestral Shoshone-Paiute land near the border of Ada and Elmore counties. This area holds deep spiritual and cultural significance and is a place where the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes used to live, hunt and care for the natural resources.
They envision a resort and casino with the latest tribal gaming machines, luxury hotel rooms, spa, entertainment center and fine dining options, the release said.
Allan said when he was growing up, many tribal members lived in poverty and could not find jobs. Today, it owns and operates the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort in Worley.
“We have a state-of-the-art medical center, ample employment for tribal members and can financially support every tribal member who wants to earn a college degree,” he said. “None of this would be possible without tribal gaming.”
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