Spilyy Tymoo, Wqi-m Great event a s7y -.-. rrrr.- r: , wm V J 111 I V v -v ' , N i t 4 AVJJ 3 "V:.V: : i l.v V v . HV ! - , .11" V.-,. , f , V , v,, This is a view of the construction site of the casino at the Cascade Locks industrial park. Interestingly, the entire area of land is built up from the fill that was excavated during construction of the Bonneville dam. The gathering at the Columbia last week included a tour of the property. The picture at top is of drummers Calvin and Kyle Queahpama during the opening of the signing ceremony, as Tribal Council members look on. Casino: $300 million to build (Continued from page 1) Tribal Council met early last week at Skamania Lodge near Cascade Locks. They discussed, and then approved four resolutions regarding the future of the tribes' gaming enterprise. One resolution is the gaming com pact for operation of a tribal casino at Cas cade Locks. Another is for operation of Kah-Nee-Ta from the present time until the new casino opens. A third resolution is for envi ronmental protection of the tribally owned land at Hood River, which the tribes had ini tially suggested as a potential casino site. The fourth resolution is an agreement between the tribes and the Port of Cascade Locks. The agreements call for the tribes to share a percentage of revenue of the new casino with the state of Oregon. A percentage is also to go to Cascade Locks for services to the casino such as drinking water, fire protection, ambulance and police. The new casino will be a substantial under taking for the tribes. Construction cost is esti mated at $300 million. The 500,000-square-foot riverfront destination resort and casino will be on 60 acres of land in the Cascade Locks industrial park. During construction, the project is expected to create 400 construction jobs and 1.7 million hours of labor. Upon completion, it will create 1,500 permanent jobs for tribal members and residents of nearby communities. When complete, the facility will feature a 250-room hotel, 24,000-square-foot meeting and convention facility, gaming casino, spa and fitness center, entertainment venue, retail shops, cultural interpretive center, daycare fa cility, and a variety of dining options. In return for this investment, the tribes stand to receive substantial revenue over time. Especially after the seventh year of operation, when the construction debt is paid off, the tribes will realize significant income, accord ing to studies. While the state-tribal aspect of the negotiations are complete, the tribes still need federal approval. The federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act confines tribal gambling to Indian lands, usu ally existing reservations. But the U.S. Interior Department can make exceptions, determin ing, for instance, that an off-reservation ca sino is in a tribe's best interest and would not harm the surrounding community, and if the governor agrees. About 20 tribes nationwide have gotten permission for off-reservation casinos under these exceptions, according to the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Office of In dian Gaming Management The plan is for the casino at Cascade Locks to open in 2008. The casino will be on 110 acres zoned for industrial use within the city's urban growth boundary. The site is along the river, but developers say the casino would be set back far enough where it wouldn't be vis ible from the river or from Interstate 84. Oregon April 14, 2005 the Columbia O M pi 1 I A f-" 1 1 A Years of negotiation with the tribes come to a successful conclusion, as Gov. Kulongoski signs the compact. ' , ... " ; t ' . . , . - Fl ST J' ' V ' mm wwj yty ---' ' " ' ' "1 1 11 '! '"I Just after the signing of the compact, people gathered outside to visit and discuss the occassion. In the foreground are Marie and secretary-treasurer Jody Calica. I ; fob, mi II i'V' '(imii ii i '1 ii - , "Z .''iji'iy y"li'l!uli Wasco Chief Nelson Wallulatum gives a blessing to the ceremony. The Wilman, Will Robbins of KWSO records as Rudy Clements comments on the significance of the gaming compact. Dave McMechan photos h jr -j t.: M X, . V , T-'-; Gov. Kulongoski, Hood River County Commissioner Carol York and Miss Warm Springs Christine Johnson listen as Tribal Council Chairman Ron Suppah addresses the gathering. t