DUCK VALLEY, ID – More than 100 members of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes traveled to the site of their first and only proposed casino and resort along I-84 to bless the land and people working on the project. The Shoshone-Paiute Tribes were joined by members of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, elected officials from nearby communities, and supporters of the project.
“Today, we asked the Creator to bless the land, our proposed project and everyone who is helping make it a reality,” said Shoshone-Paiute Chairman Brian Mason. “Life in Duck Valley is full of challenges. We still have some tribal members living in homes without floors or running water. We struggle with high unemployment, we don’t have access to adequate medical care, and we can’t attract enough qualified teachers. Tribal gaming can give us the resources we need to solve these problems. As we move forward, we want the Creator to guide us, so we can develop a resource that will provide for our people for generations, while protecting the land and creating opportunities to benefit our surrounding communities.”
The tribal blessing ceremony was performed by Reginal Sope, a traditional ceremonial chief for the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes, and included drummers, horses and traditional singers. The site of the proposed casino and resort, which sits along I-84 halfway between Boise and Mountain Home, is part of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes’ ancestral homelands. During the blessing ceremony, Sope gave thanks to the land and all it has already done for their people. Building their first casino and resort here would reconnect the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes to their homelands.
“This land provided for the generations that came before us,” said Shoshone-Paiute Tribal Council Member Lindsey Manning. “Now, it is poised to once again bless our people by becoming the home to our first and only casino. This project will give us job opportunities and a much-needed revenue source so we can become self-reliant and provide for our people. Tribal gaming will also positively impact the communities surrounding our resort and casino by providing well-paying jobs for non-tribal members, creating additional funding sources for local schools and contributing millions of dollars to Idaho’s economy.”
The Shoshone-Paiute Tribes envision a casino and resort with the latest tribal gaming machines, luxury hotel rooms, spa, entertainment center and fine dining options. They are committed, dedicating five percent of their net gaming revenues to support local schools and education programs.
The Coeur d’Alene Tribal Council and tribal members traveled to Boise to participate in the ceremony. The Coeur d’Alene Tribe is partnering with the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes to provide the initial investment and share their expertise to get the resort and casino through permitting, development and into operations.
“When I was growing up, we didn’t have tribal gaming,” said Coeur d’Alene Chairman Chief Allan. “I remember the struggles our community faced because of our lack of resources. We had high levels of unemployment, limited access to medical care, and very few of us were going on to college. Fortunately, our children are growing up in an entirely different world – one where we have the resources we need to care for our people. We are excited to help the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes reach this same level of self-reliance.”
The Shoshone-Paiute Tribes are currently working on submitting their fee-to-trust land acquisition application to the U.S. Department of the Interior. This is a crucial first step in gaining permission to build a casino and resort on tribal land outside the reservation. They anticipate the application will be ready to submit by late summer.
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