Shiprock casino on fast track
Project would bring 400 jobs to the city

By Brian Hassler
Staff Writer

SHIPROCK — With plans for a convention center, a new hotel and casino, the Shiprock Chapter is moving ahead with plans that could bring an estimated $100 million into the city.

The chapter, along with K-V Enterprises and the Navajo Nation Organization of Gaming, has prepared plans that will bring the casino, a 152-room hotel and nearly 400 jobs into the city.

"Taxes and consumer spending would increase, which would spur new businesses to come," said Peter Deswood, Jr. "Local job opportunities would increase and if the farmers see this as a real traffic generator, you could bring the services here and complete the full consumer needs of Navajos here in Shiprock. They don't have to go to Farmington or Yellow Jacket to get what they need. We just need the farmers to become more active and bring their services here to Shiprock."

Located at the fairgrounds on Uranium Blvd., and Highway 491, the casino would be three stories, would allow close access to the hotel which will feature 152 rooms, a swimming pool and easy access to the newly built convention center and two new restaurants.

Should the chapter choose to speed up the process, it could possibly break ground in July of 2005, but it will instead hold off until the Shiprock Fair is completed in the first week of October.

"We're resigned to the fact that we have one more round of fairs," said Shiprock Chapter President Duane "Chili" Yazzie. "Once the fair is done, then we can go in and move forward. Sometime within the next week or two, we'll be in a meeting with a group that we've found to be a viable financier. We'll be meeting with them by way of introduction to see what they're offering. The casino would be a Navajo Nation operation and the hotel would be a private enterprise."

Costs for the hotel, convention center and restaurants could run as high as $35 million, while the casino will cost between $15 to $20 million dollars.

But finding a financier hasn't been the groups only problem, as Tribal Attorney General Louis Denetsosie informed chapter representatives that it would need to further incorporate the Navajo Nation in gaming matters.

"Gaming on the Navajo Nation is governed by the ordinance for the regulation of gaming activity within the Navajo Nation," said Denetsosie in a letter to the council's delegates. "The ordinance specifically states all gaming is to be conducted by a tribal gaming enterprise. Neither the Shiprock Chapter nor the Shiprock Tribal Gaming Enterprise Inc., is authorized as a tribal gaming enterprise."

Denetsosie added that the proper legislation would need to be passed in order for Shiprock to add gaming to its chapter.

But such an addition isn't as far off as originally thought, says Yazzie.

"We are proceeding with our plans with the best of intent," said Yazzie. "We recognize that the Navajo Nation will be the owner of the casino, we never suggested otherwise. Our participation in the casino will be as operators."

To work around any other misunderstandings, Yazzie is planning on meeting with Denetsosie to work out future plans.

"We will be scheduling meetings to work it out," he said. "It's a positive situation and we will continue ahead with our plans."

Beyond discussions with tribal attorneys, Yazzie says the chapter is waiting for Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley to organize the Navajo Nation Gaming Office. Once that office has been established, the Shiprock Chapter can begin to discuss gaming with the Gaming Office.

"If that office isn't in place until 2006, then construction won't begin until 2007," said Yazzie. "Our window gets smaller and smaller as we await the presidents office to organize the gaming office. The overriding consideration is the jobs it will create and the economic benefits that will ensure a viable welfare of the people."

— Brian Hassler is The Independent's Four Corners reporter. Contact him at (505) 360-7862 or via email at brainhassler@hotmail.com.