The Kalispel Tribe of Indians has filed a suit in federal court seeking an immediate halt to the construction of a rival casino being built in Airway Heights by the Spokane Tribe of Indians. For the first time ever, the Kalispel Tribe of Indians has brought nearly 20 years of expertise in gaming home to its own back yard in Pend Oreille County. Featuring 120 of the newest, most popular slot machines on the market, Kalispel Casino is now the place to go in Northeast Washington for food, fun and gaming excitement!
- Spokane Tribe Casino
- Kalispel Tribe Northern Quest Casino
- Kalispell Tribe New Casino
- Kalispel Tribe And Northern Quest Casino
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| over 400 enrolled members[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| United States (Washington) | |
| Languages | |
| Kalispel language, English[2] | |
| Religion | |
| traditional tribal religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Kalispel/Pend d'Oreilles peoples,[3]Chewelah people[4] |
The Kalispel Indian Community of the Kalispel Reservation is a federally recognized tribe of Lower Kalispel people, located in Washington. They are an Indigenous people of the Northwest Plateau.
Reservation[edit]
The Kalispel Reservation, located in Usk in Pend Oreille County, Washington. It was founded in 1914 and is 4,557 acres (18.44 km2) large.[4][1]
Government[edit]
The tribe's headquarters is in Cusick, Washington. The tribe is governed by a democratically elected, five-member tribal council. The current administration is as follows:
- Chairman: Glen Nenema
- Vice-Chairman: Raymond Pierre III
- Secretary: Darren Holmes
- Council Member: Betty Jo Peingkham
- Council Member: Curt Holmes.[5]
Language[edit]
Traditionally, Kalispel people spoke the Kalispel language, an Interior Salish language.[3]
History[edit]
Spokane Tribe Casino
Kalispel people are thought to have come from British Columbia. In the 18th century, the Niitsitapi people pushed them from the Great Plains to Pend d'Oreille River and Lake Pend Oreille.[3] The town of Kalispell, Montana is named after the tribe.
In 1809, David Thompson opened a trading post for the North West Company of Montréal in their territory.[3] A Roman Catholic mission was founded in the 1840s.[4] The Upper Kalispel were forced onto an Indian reservation in Montana, while the Lower Kalispel remained on their homelands in Washington.[1]
The tribe refused to sign a treaty proposed by the US government in 1872. In 1875, there were only 395 Lower Kalispel. Non-Natives claimed reservation lands under the Homestead Act, and economic opportunities for tribal members were minimal. In 1965, the average tribal member's income was $1,400, and there was only one telephone for the entire tribe.[1]
Economic development[edit]
The tribe owns and operates the Northern Quest Resort and Casino, located in Airway Heights, Washington. The resort features Masselow's, Epic Sports Bar, Fai's Noodle House, Qdoba, Rivers Edge Buffet, Fatburger, The Deli, Marketplace, Thomas Hammer Coffee, Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream, and Movie & Dinner Theatre as well as several bars and nightclubs: Legends of Fire, Fireside Lounge, Liquid, and the Turf, and La Rive Spa.[6]
The tribe owns the franchise rights to Fatburger in the Eastern Washington region, having opened a restaurant in Spokane's 5-Mile district. [7]
Notes[edit]
- ^ abcd'Kalispel Tribe.'Northwest Portland Art Indian Health Board. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
- ^'Kalispel-Pend d’Oreille.'Ethnologue. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
- ^ abcdPritzker 257
- ^ abcPritzker 258
- ^'Government: Business Council.'Kalispel Tribe of Indians. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
- ^'Northern Quest Resort and Casino.'500 Nations. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
- ^'Fatburger'.Kalispel Tribe of Indians. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
Kalispel Tribe Northern Quest Casino
References[edit]
- Pritzker, Barry M. A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000. ISBN978-0-19-513877-1.
External links[edit]
- Kalispel Tribe of Indians, official website
| Northern Quest Resort & Casino | |
|---|---|
| Location | Airway Heights, Washington, United States |
| Address | 100 N. Hayford Road |
| Opening date | December 2000 |
| No. of rooms | 250; 22 suites |
| Total gaming space | 55,000 sq. ft. |
| Permanent shows | Outdoor Summer Concert Venue, Pend Oreille Pavilion (Cage fights, Comedy, Concerts) |
| Signature attractions | Yogo Shop Lounge at Masselow's Liquid Turf Club Marketplace Cravings La Rive Spa Birch Glen Gifts |
| Notable restaurants | Masselow's Steakhouse Epic - The Ultimate Sports Experience Fai's Noodle House Legends of Fire Cigar Bar Rivers Edge Buffet Fatburger Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen |
| Casino type | Indian |
| Owner | Kalispel Tribe |
| Architect | ALSC Architects |
| Renovated in | 2008-2009 (hotel added) 2012 (buffet added) |
| Website | northernquest.com |
Northern Quest Resort & Casino is an Indian casino in Airway Heights, Washington, near Spokane, owned and operated by the Kalispel Tribe. It has a 250-room hotel, a spa, and 14 restaurants and lounges. The casino has 55,000 square feet (5,100 m2) of gaming space, with over 1,500 slot machines, 37 table games, 9 poker tables, a keno parlor, and a racebook.[citation needed]
Shows[edit]
The casino has hosted many shows by stars such as Blue Öyster Cult, Carlos Santana, Toby Keith, Willie Nelson, BB King, Ringo Starr, Natalie Cole, Art Garfunkel, Sammy Hagar, Kenny Rogers, Miranda Lambert, Kelly Clarkson, Sugarland, Kid Rock, ZZ Top, Heart and Chris Botti, and comedians Lewis Black, Bill Cosby, Jeff Dunham and Jay Leno.[citation needed] The Pavilion also holds occasional amateur cage fighting, and can be reserved for private events.
Northern Quest has also been featured on Friday Night Fights on ESPN2 several times for boxing events.
See also[edit]
Kalispell Tribe New Casino
Coordinates: 47°39′31″N117°33′39″W / 47.6586°N 117.5609°W