Wena Supernaw, Chair
Quapaw Nation
Downstream Casino Resort – Quapaw, OK; Quapaw Casino – Miami, OK; Saracen Casino Resort – Pine Bluff, AR
downstreamcasino.com / quapawcasino.com
saracenresort.com / quapawtribe.com
BENEFITS OF GAMING: Many of our programs and services for tribal members and the entire community would not be possible without gaming revenue. We have strong culture programs focused on language, history, our library, our museum, and tradition. We also have a growing Department of Public Safety, which includes marshals, fire/EMS, emergency management, addiction counseling, juvenile services, and court for our entire community. We also have extensive tribal member services such as medical assistance, elder housing, family housing, utility assistance, school clothing allowance, veteran assistance, emergency financial assistance, higher education assistance, quarterly meat distribution and burial assistance. Additionally, our Resource Management is focused on land management, healing our land through remediation, forestry, wildlife conservation, our meat processing plant (Quapaw Cattle Company) and food sovereignty. Our tradition teaches us there is no greater honor than feeding people.
GOALS & INITIATIVES: Our primary focus is on debt repayment so that we can expand our tribal member services. Our commercial casino in Pine Bluff, AR, located in our original homeland, is experiencing a major expansion with a hotel and event center. We think it will be the finest hotel in the state when it opens in late 2025. Our original bingo hall, which became the Quapaw Casino, will have a brand-new building in the next two years. Downstream Casino Resort is now 16 years old and is ready for renovations and improvements that will commence next year. Additionally, the housing shortage in Northeast Oklahoma, specifically within our exterior boundaries, has propelled us to start building affordable single-family homes. We started building 20 homes that will be finished in 2025 and we plan on building even more.
LEGISLATIVE: Defending and strengthening tribal sovereignty is at the heart of what the Quapaw Nation government does. The Oklahoma governor is uncooperative with the tribal nations that were removed to Indian Territory that became the State of Oklahoma. We enjoy strong relationships with other Oklahoma branches of government and departments. However, our tobacco compact expires at the end of this calendar year and the negotiations may not result in a compact the Quapaw Nation is happy with. In addition, the Oklahoma governor has made a tribal compact offer that, in essence, turns a sovereign nation’s tribal tags into vanity plates. That is unacceptable. Our reservation was upheld to have never been disestablished by the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals almost three years ago. We are a sovereign nation and enjoy strong government-to-government relations on many levels. Unfortunately, not with the State of Oklahoma’s governor.