Quarterly Meeting addresses the tribe’s newest business endeavors

by Alyssa Kelly

PABLO — It has been a year of mixed emotion on the Flathead reservation and the main topics discussed at the quarterly meeting held on July 6 were the latest business endeavors of the Gray Wolf Peak Casino in Evaro and the Eagle bank in Polson; both owned and operated by the Salish-Kootenai tribes.

Gray Wolf Peak Casino: “We felt it wasn’t right that gaming on the reservation was generating around $18-19 million and the tribes were only receiving around $1 million of the profit. We decided that the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the Tribes be in control of the gaming operations,” says Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Chairman, James Steele, Jr., on the Tribe’s recent decision to operate Class II throughout the reservation.

Although the Class III failed negotiations with the state caused controversy to businesses and consumers alike, tribal and non-tribal members, the positive answer from the Tribes was to build a Class II casino and hope for success. Since the official opening of Gray Wolf Peak Casino on June 22, the goal of success thus far, has been achieved. The weekend of the grand opening celebration attracted more than 1,000 participants.

Other accomplishments of Gray Wolf Peak casino as well as the Kwataqnuk Resort include Title 31 training on federal currency transactions/reporting to all tribal employees working as cashiers and cash handlers. Dealers have completed poker dealer training/established regular poker hours of operation. There was a new line of uniforms introduced to various departments. Operations were conducted for audit of cashier and cash handling areas. They have attained an 85 percent tribal member employment at Gray Wolf Peak.

In order to make the casino project a success, the Tribes looked “nationally” for qualified staff in order of filling the position of the principal officer for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ gaming. After an extensive search, Council had decided on Peter Fordham whose excellent qualifications and 15-year experience in the Native American gaming industry made him perfect for the job.

The future plans for the casino presented during the meeting included implementing new service standards including advancing to 130 machines within 90 days. There are also accommodations being made in order of meeting the demands of the bingo night experimentation at the Resort as well as the introduction of poker within 90 days.

New marketing strategy plans are in the works to introduce a player’s club, develop the database and enact direct marketing activities. One suggestion made from the public during the meeting on a marketing strategy included creating an activity packet, which can conjoin with The People’s Center’s tour group Native Ed-Ventures to give visitors a better understanding of the reservation and the native people of Flathead Reservation.

“By building a relationship locally the tribally owned facility is growing and we’re here to stay. The Tribes have a right to have gaming on the reservation and so be it,” says Fordham.

Eagle Bank: The idea for a tribally-owned and operated bank on the Flathead reservation began in 1988, when the Tribal Council had the opportunity to visit a tribe in San Diego, California. The tribe owned and operated a bank, which was worth an estimated $100 million and they managed all of their tribe’s finances.

Eagle Bank, located in Polson next to Wal-Mart, is the Tribes’ answer in making the 19-year dream of a tribally-owned and operated bank on the Flathead Reservation a reality. It is a commercial bank open to the public and because it is FDIC, the bank’s stability is in accordance with state, federal, and tribal laws. The bank is operated under a special tax bracket, which allows all of the profits to go back into the tribe.

Council appointed all the board members of Eagle Bank. They had to undergo a rigorous process, which were required under FDIC regulations. All members appointed needed qualifications including a business background and outstanding credit check. They receive an honorarium of $100 monthly for being on the board.

In the future the bank is planning an aggressive ad campaign in order of reaching not only tribal, but others as well. “We are the same as surrounding banks throughout the valley and we offer the same products. The people employed are what set us apart. Our goal is to have a majority of tribal employment at the bank to give that local feel,” say Bob Gauthier.