This month, four tribal leaders discuss the steps their tribes are taking to ensure the long-term economic and cultural resilience of their communities, and the primary areas of focus for their gaming and entertainment enterprises.
Russell Attebery, Chairman
Karuk Tribe
Rain Rock Casino Resort & Hotel – Yreka, CA
rainrockcasino.com / karuk.us
RESILIENCE: I am immensely proud to share that the Karuk Tribe is continuing to make major strides towards our long-term economic and cultural resilience. Recently, we celebrated a major victory with the passing of California’s new cultural burn law (SB 310). With this agreement, we have been empowered to lead in forest stewardship and are able to revive an ancestral relationship with fire to support wildfire resilience and ecosystem health. This law removes longstanding barriers, recognizing Indigenous expertise and allows the tribe to not only be a source of knowledge, but of culturally informed action.
GAMING: Simultaneously, Karuk is expanding our economic footprint with a major casino renovation, to be completed this summer. New offerings include luxury suites, an outdoor patio, and expanded live entertainment. The Rain Rock Casino remains essential for the tribe in its ongoing mission to provide human services to our members and our community at large.
These efforts not only generate growth, but also reflect the casino’s vital importance in providing cultural revitalization, self-determination, and stability for the Karuk Tribe. We are committed to fighting for its indispensable status as a foundational building block for the future of the Karuk Tribe.
Melissa Darden, Chairman
Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana
Cypress Bayou Casino & Hotel – Charenton, LA
cypressbayou.casino / chitimacha.gov
RESILIENCE: We are growing! We are growing and diversifying our tribal enterprise portfolio, and we are also growing in tribal membership through birthrate. Like the old saying goes, “you can either grow or die” and we have chosen to grow. As a tribe, we always pay homage to the past and our ancestors, but we are also always looking towards the future. We have to. The economic landscape is forever changing. Much of that is beyond our control, so we have to focus on things that we can control. We have a great group of tribal enterprises. They perform well for us. Yes, our main revenue generator is gaming, but we have invested wisely and diversified. Besides our casino, we have a convenience store/gas station, grocery store and another one in construction, a subdivision, and multiple types of contract services companies. These tribal businesses aren’t just supportive of our tribal members and culture – they support the communities, cities, and states that they operate in.
GAMING: Our primary focus in the gaming industry right now is iGaming. Though not legal in the state we operate in, we have to know it is coming at some point. We see the industry numbers and they are amazing for those with online casinos. We have yet to see exactly how it will impact brick-and-mortar casinos in the long term, as it is a fairly new type of gaming. When and if it is legalized in our home state, iGaming will have a big impact on our gaming operation one way or the other.
Carla Keene, Chairman
Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians
Seven Feathers Casino Resort – Canyonville, OR
sevenfeathers.com / cowcreek-nsn.gov
RESILIENCE: Wildfire is a growing threat to the homelands of the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians. Our ancestral footprint of 6.2 million acres is in densely forested, mountainous, and increasingly dry land in Southwest Oregon. The Cow Creek Umpqua have always known that our most precious cultural resources are our natural resources. Our ancestors knew long ago that to protect the forest and the animals that live in it, they had to introduce fire. Cultural burning helped keep down dry fuels, replenished the soil, and ensured fire
resistant plants could thrive.
We are working directly with our forest partners to increase the resilience of our forests, and strategically introducing fire to our reservation lands as a way to responsibly manage the wildfire threat. By increasing the health and resiliency of our land, our tribal families can feel safe going into the forests and building a stronger connection to their culture for the next seven generations.
GAMING: The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians believes in the sovereignty of all tribes to be able to provide for their people. But, we believe strongly that this right should not allow for one tribe’s economic enterprises to be at the expense of sister tribes, to neglect public health or safety, or to be outside the compliance with Indian gaming regulatory agencies. We have never hurt another tribe for our own benefit. Businesses that violate those principles risk harming the reputations of Indian economic enterprises throughout the nation. Our businesses work squarely within these lines, and we expect others to do the same. Our economic ventures are in a constant state of remodel, helping to ensure our guests and customers are getting the best possible service for their dollar.
Lee Juan Tendoy, Chairman
Shosone-Bannock Tribes
Shoshone-Bannock Casino Hotel – Fort Hall, ID; Bannock Peak Casino – Arbon Valley, ID; Sage Hill Travel Center & Casino – Blackfoot, ID
shobangaming.com / sbtribes.com
RESILIENCE: The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes are focused on strengthening our economic foundation while ensuring our cultural values remain at the heart of everything we do. A key step in this effort has been the establishment of a Business Development Department within our Section 17 Tribal Enterprise and Agri-Business Corporations. This department is tasked with identifying new revenue-generating opportunities, fostering strategic partnerships, and expanding our business portfolio beyond gaming, including investments in agriculture, retail and energy. By diversifying our economic base, we are ensuring long-term financial sustainability that will directly benefit our tribal members.
Culturally, we are committed to preserving our traditions and ensuring that our people, especially our youth, remain connected to their identity. We continue to invest in language preservation programs, cultural tourism initiatives, and partnerships with educational institutions to keep our history and heritage alive. Additionally, we remain steadfast in protecting our tribal sovereignty and treaty rights, confirming that economic growth aligns with our values and priorities.
GAMING: Our primary focus for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes’ gaming and entertainment enterprises this year is on growth, innovation, and enhancing the overall guest experience. We are investing in facility upgrades, expanding our gaming options, and incorporating new technology to ensure a modern and competitive environment. Additionally, we are diversifying our entertainment offerings, bringing in more live events, cultural showcases, and hospitality enhancements to attract a broader audience. Strengthening our workforce through training and career development remains a priority, ensuring that our enterprises provide long-term economic benefits to our tribal members. By prioritizing customer satisfaction and operational excellence, we aim to sustain and expand our gaming enterprises as a key driver of economic success for our community.
Our ultimate goal is to ensure that our gaming success translates into broader community benefits – funding essential services in healthcare, education, and infrastructure – while remaining deeply rooted in our cultural identity.
