8
S moke S ignals
JUNE 1, 2016
Spirit Mountain Casino remodel begins
By Angela Sears
Advertising supervisor
Spirit Mountain Casino has start-
ed an elaborate remodeling proj-
ect that will bring a new level of
comfort and sophistication to the
20-year-old property.
The yearlong remodeling project
will give the casino an entirely new
look and feel, adding more excite-
ment to the casino loor with new
inishes and carpet, visually pleas-
ing lighting displays and ceiling
ixtures, a convenient new entrance
and a new casino bar.
Guests have already started to
see things change throughout the
casino. The Poker Room was tempo-
rarily relocated to make room for a
new, convenient entrance located at
the north end of the casino. Because
the entrance will take guests direct-
ly on to the main gaming loor, it is
limited to guests who are 21 years
of age or older.
Another new addition is the
North Bar, located just inside the
new North Entrance area. This lav-
ish addition to the gaming loor will
offer guests slot machine gaming
and a full bar.
Perhaps the biggest part of the
project is the conversion of The
Peak gaming area into Oregon’s
irst non-smoking full casino. The
Peak will feature 600 slot machines,
table games, poker, keno and a bar,
but will not allow smoking.
“We’re looking forward to the up-
coming renovations at Spirit Moun-
tain Casino,” says Tribal Council
Chairman Reyn Leno. “Revenues
from Spirit Mountain Casino help
us provide health care and other vi-
tal services to our Tribal members,
and with an ever-changing market
we want to keep our property fresh
and exciting for our guests.
“With a new look and new state-
of-the-art machines, we’re looking
to provide guests with an enjoyable
atmosphere and world-class gam-
ing experience for years to come.
There’s no doubt in my mind that
Spirit Mountain Casino will be
among the top gaming destinations
for travelers here in the state of
Oregon and along the West Coast.”
Spirit Mountain Casino opened
in October 1995. During its Nov.
4, 2015, meeting, Tribal Council
approved a loan not to exceed $13
million to fund the extensive re-
modeling of the casino. I-5 Design
and Manufacture Inc. of Lacey,
Wash., is performing the work.
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Hello Community! We would like to
invite you all to the Canoe meetings set
for this year.
When: June 12
Who: Those people interested in
participating in Canoe Journey
Time: 12-3pm (Lunch is provided)
Where: Grand Ronde Tribal Gym
Please contact Cristina Lara for more information
503.879.2040
Contributed illustrations
Spirit Mountain Casino has started an elaborate yearlong remodeling project
that will give the casino an entirely new look and feel. Above is an artist’s
illustration of how the new gaming loor will look with the addition of a
North Bar (below).
Tribe closes on 425-acre
property in Marion County
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
The Grand Ronde Tribe closed on Monday, May 23, on the 425.71-acre
Chankawan property that fronts more than a mile of the North Santiam
River in Marion County.
According to Tribal Lands Department Manager Jan Reibach, the
property is worth more than $1.27 million and the purchase is being en-
tirely funded by Bonneville Power Administration’s Willamette Wildlife
Mitigation Program
The transaction includes more than $600,000 in operation and mainte-
nance funding from the BPA.
“This is a proud achievement for Grand Ronde, as the Tribe makes
further strides in its land ownership and right to manage Tribal natural
and cultural resources throughout our treaty homelands,” Reibach said.
“Both play an important role in the Tribe’s sovereignty.”
The acquisition brings the Tribe’s total conservation acreage to more
than 1,124 acres.
“Led by our Tribal Council and funded by BPA, this program protects
unique and imperiled habitat for Tribally important species in the Willa-
mette Basin, and restores ceded lands and homeland resources to Tribal
ownership and management,” Reibach said.
“Through conservation easements over these properties, the Tribe
actively manages them to restore, protect and enhance wildlife habitat.
The Chankawan Wildlife Area will focus particularly on spring Chinook
salmon, winter steelhead and Paciic lamprey, but will include many other
Tribally important plant and animal species as well.”
Chankawan means “place of salmon” in the Santiam Kalapuya lan-
guage. The North Santiam River was historically the single largest-pro-
ducing tributary for spring Chinook salmon in the whole Willamette
Basin system.
Reibach said the area is an important homeland of the Santiam Kalapuya
people, located directly across the river from the reservation delineated in
the unratiied 1851 treaty with the Santiam Kalapuya.
“This project is truly a team effort,” Reibach said. “There are many folks
to thank for their help and support during the acquisition process.”
Reibach thanked Tribal Council, the General Manager’s Ofice, Tribal
Attorney’s Ofice, Natural Resources, Public Works & Facilities, the Tribal
Historic Preservation Ofice and Finance, as well as BPA, the Western
Rivers Conservancy, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Oregon
Department of Forestry.
“Much work remains before our treaty lands and resources are restored
and recovered,” he said. “To that end we remain committed to working
hard. In the spirit of that effort, today we celebrate the Tribal ownership
of the Chankawan property.”