Nahata Dziil gets casino

By Brian Hassler
Staff Writer

SHIPROCK — Despite a Thursday meeting with Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. to discuss building a casino, the Shiprock Chapter won't be the first chapter with a casino.

On Monday, during his state of the nation address, Shirley will announce that the Nahata Dziil Chapter will be the first site of a gaming establishment on the reservation.

George Hardeen, of the Office of the President and Vice President, confirmed that Shirley will make the announcement and added that other gaming sites won't be far behind.

Attempts to contact the Nahata Dziil Chapter were unsuccessful, as reports were confirmed late Friday afternoon.

Plans for a Shiprock casino have continued to move forward as Thursday's meeting was attended by Lee Iacocca and Full House Resorts, Incorporated, Iacocca's development company.

"Full House is the proposed developer and if the President of the Navajo Nation were to accept the Shiprock proposal that we work with Full House, Mr. Iacocca would be the developer and financier of the Shiprock casino," said Duane "Chili" Yazzie, Shiprock Chapter President.

Iacocca is the former Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Chrysler Corp., positions he retired from in 1992, and is also known for his work in the Iacocca Foundation and his contributions for the fight against diabetes.

"I think it went very well," said Yazzie. "It was just an introduction of the company to the President."

While Nahata Dziil will be the first chapter to receive a casino, gaming on the reservation can't begin until the Navajo Nation gaming office is staffed and in operation.

The first step toward operational status began when Eddie Lockett, Jr., was placed in charge of the gaming office, but aside from an administrative assistant, Lockett is still looking at job applications to fill the remaining positions.

"We have advertised for a position as a gaming regulatory licensing investigation manager," said Lockett. "With it being the first large position, I was pleased with the response and we've received quite a few applications, calls from abroad expressing an interest in the position."

Aside from filling the positions, Lockett will also request for additional funding during the upcoming winter sessions in order to hire officers for the Slot Compliance Department and the Audit Department.

Slot Compliance officers will monitor the slot machines being used at casinos to ensure they are running correctly and efficiently while audit officials will monitor the money that is going into and leaving the casinos.

The regulatory department has no control or input concerning which developer the nation selects, but is responsible for the safety, security and configuration of the casino.

"We are involved with the aspects of the casino with respect to ensuring the health, safety and welfare of employees and general public," said Lockett. "We are also involved in surveillance of the area, and what kind of machines would be used for surveillance. We'll be looking to move as close to the maximum as possible for surveillance equipment."

Lockett hasn't been given a timeline for when the regulatory office is to be running, but he is looking at an April, 2006 start date.

"I would like to think by April 2006, we would have the staff we would need to be able to proceed forward," he said. "I don't know if we'll be totally and fully staffed, but initially I'm looking at a staff ofaround 17 people. Quite a bit of training will be involved for those that will be working here."

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