Ribbon cutting during the Shoshone-Bannock Casino Hotel Opening Day celebration February 13.
By ROSELYNN YAZZIE
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — Fort Hall Business Council Chairman Nathan Small emphasized the opening of the new Shoshone-Bannock Casino Hotel was a long time coming, but it’s now here.
The Opening Day Ceremony for the momentous event was Wednesday, February 13.
A press conference took place prior to the ceremony where Marketing Manager Andrea Todd welcomed those in attendance.
Attendees at the opening day celebration event.
Executive Marketing Director Echo Marshall explained in 2006 the Sho-Ban Tribes commissioned a feasibility study with the results beginning the planning process for the economic growth of the Tribes.
In 2012 the $47 million Shoshone-Bannock Casino Hotel & Event Center was opened, with the largest ballroom in the area attracting many to the facility.
In 2014 FFKR Architecture was selected to design the casino expansion Phase II. Vanier Construction Management was brought on in October 2016. The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes broke ground on the 85,463 square foot gaming floor. In 2018, Big-D Construction joined the project as the general contractor. In January 2019 under the regulation of the National Indian Gaining Commission, the Shoshone-Bannock Gaming Commission, the gaming floor was cleared to begin the install of gaming machines. On February 5, 2019 the Shoshone-Bannock Casino Hotel officially began a live gaming property.
Pamela Gallegos, has been the CEO for almost a year and said it’s been an exciting endeavor and is proud to have been there to see the tribes flourish and see them into the new era. She talked about how it was the first day opening of the new casino to see those in line to play the machines.
“It was with excitement that they ran in. It was like kids in a candy store. They were so excited, and the smiles on their faces. They truly were proud to be some of the first individuals in here to game,” she said.
They have worked tirelessly to pull things together and are still continuing to finish up a few details. She says people are still practicing and getting used to their new jobs but the tribal members working there are so proud and eager and excited. She thinks people will see a new era of customer service and welcoming to the guests.
Gallegos said it’s only the beginning of what is to come.
Fort Hall Business Council Chairman Nathan Small talked about the beginning of gaming initiative in Fort Hall and how it started in 1988. Congress passed the National Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and the State of Idaho passed a constitutional amendment to allow for the lottery and gaming by charitable organizations were allowed to run their casino lines. The Tribes weren’t very far behind and they started working on their gaming ordinance. Once they got that passed they started bingo. In 1990 bingo took place in the Timbee Hall gymnasium and was successful. Eventually it moved to the Dome Room and the Elderly Nutrition. Small said he got with the then Chairman Kesley Edmo to discuss how they needed a designated area with more room. Edmo knew of some money that could be used to build a bingo hall, which is now the former casino facility. The move proved successful and they were able to open up a lot of jobs. They soon began to look into gaming machines.
Despite machines being a gray area at the time they followed through with them anyway. Small said it took a long time to eventually get a compact with the state of Idaho. They had to go through court quite a bit, but eventually they prevailed and kept moving forward.
Fort Hall Business Council Chairman Nathan Small.
Small was appointed the first Gaming Manager in 1990 and he was there almost 10 years.
Through the years, the bingo area and the machine areas changed, but they still kept both of them. Ideas for the Casino Hotel Phase I, Phase II and Phase III began to develop further. At the same time other building projects by the tribes occurred, like the Justice Center, Sage Hill and Water Resources Department.
Small said it took some time to get the new casino built but everything seen today was on behalf of the leadership and what the general membership voted on.
Chairman Small said finally the Shoshone-bannock Tribes is catching up to the rest of the tribes across the United States and in Idaho.
“We’re here, finally,” he said, as he added he was proud of all those involved in the process. He thanked all the employees from the 1990s to now to have the ability to make the initiative a success now and into the future.
He talked about the legalization of alcohol at the facility, which began with the sales of beer and wine. Now they have a liquor license, customers may patronize the bar.
Public Affairs Manager Randy’L Teton gave her remarks about the interior design of the casino and the committee she coordinated with to choose what’s showcased. Each of the details was decided upon by a collaborative effort to represent the true beauty of the Shoshone-Bannock people.
Tyson Shay, Sales Executive, emceed the event in the Chiefs Event Center.
Tribal elder Hobby Hevewah offered the prayer. The Spring Creek Singers sang to honor the event as a grand entry was performed by Michael Mendez carrying in the eagle staff, followed by dancers Joseph Baldwin, SallyAnne Jack, Jamie Ariwite, Hunter Osborne and Hovia Edwards-Yellowjohn.
Hovia Edwards-Yellowjohn plays the flute during the reception.
Miss Shoshone-Bannock Jennie Whitehorse welcomed people to the ceremony and said the grand opening of the new casino is a new economic opportunity for tribal members and the Tribes. She encouraged everyone to check out all the Shoshone-Bannock Casino Hotel has to offer. She asked they appreciate all the hard work that has gone into it.
Executive Director for the Shoshone-Bannock Gaming Commission Marvin Osborne was pleased to see the opening of the brand new casino. He introduced the other commissioners present, Lawrence Bagley, Jim Houtz, Mike Trahant and Layton Littlejohn Jr.
Osborne said they are in charge of regulating the operation and wanted people to know they will continue to follow through in order to be successful. He expressed his appreciation of all the staff and their hard work.
Chairman of the Gaming Commission Lawrence Bagley acknowledged all the veterans in the audience for their sacrifice. He acknowledged all the employees they oversee under the commission, as well as casino and hotel staff. He said there is a lot of teamwork and dedication involved in their work. He recognized all past and present tribal council who had the vision to follow through with the expansion of the casino operation. May they venture into a prosperous future.
Davis Giles from FFKR, Bernie O’Donnell from Vanir, Tim Lewis from Big-D Construction, were called up to the stage to give their remarks on their work with the project.
Giles congratulated the FHBC and the membership for the opening. He acknowledged the design team for their work on the facility.
Tribal elders had reserved seating at the event.
O’Donnell Vice President from Vanir Construction Management he said their role on the project was to be the owners rep and be an advocate for the tribe. He said they were humbled and honored to be there and serve the people.
Scott Tomlinson, Executive Director Pacific NW Region/Associate said they looked at the goals of the project and wanted to mirror that.
Mark Johnson, Senior Project Manager, said he worked with several who made a huge difference to the project and was happy to see everyone work together. He was inspired by working with the FHBC and learned a lot about the tribes and their culture. He individually acknowledged the many people he worked with throughout the project.
Lewis from Big-D Construction talked about his heart felt experience working with the people and how they were good and it was an honor to work with them.
A ribbon cutting ended the ceremony done by tribal officials and selected representatives. It was followed by a final performance from the dancers and Spring Creek.