Tribal Casinos in Wyoming: A Rich History and Culture

Native American tribes were the first to inhabit the land that we now call North America, so it is easy to understand that they have a deep history and culture. Their traditions and stories are passed through generations, and their culture is still very much alive today. Not all Native American history is positive, especially around the time the U.S. was expanding west, but the Shoshone and Arapaho tribes' stories from their time when people were settling the lands through their first casino being built is a story that deserves to be told.

Tribal History in Wyoming

Tribal history in Wyoming started long before we kept records, so much of it is in stories passed down through generations in the tribe. Apart from what we've learned through those stories and artifacts that have been uncovered, our knowledge of the tribes starts in the 1800s when settlers started moving west.

Before settlers came, the Shoshone people were considered semi-nomadic people who hunted and gathered to survive. They would move with the seasons to find the sustenance they needed to survive. Wyoming's unique geography offered plenty of variety to thrive throughout the year, with mountains, valleys, and lakes to find various types of animals to hunt.

Fur traders first made contact with the tribe in the early 1900s, the most famous of which was the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The Shoshone woman, Sacagawea, was instrumental in the safety and success of the explorer's party. Although most people would recognize her name and significance in the expansion of the U.S. territories, not many could tell you that she was a member of the Shoshone tribe.

Unfortunately, things were not always peaceful between the Indigenous Peoples and the Western settlers who moved into their territories. Conflicts arose, and the U.S. government and Shoshone and Arapaho leaders signed the Treaty of Fort Bridger, establishing the Wind River Indian Reservation, which would become the future site of tribal casinos.

Tribal Casino History in Wyoming

The end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st brought another significant change for the tribes. In 1988 congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, a federal law that provides a framework for Native American Tribes to own and operate casinos on their reservations. Even with the bill's passage, it was an uphill battle for the tribes to get the state to approve a casino on tribal land.

After years of petitioning the state for the right to build a casino on tribal land, the reservation finally took Wyoming to court, and after a decade-long legal battle, the reservation was finally cleared to open casinos in 2005. Since then, the tribes have opened a total of four casinos, but one has since paused operations.

How Rich History and Culture and Modern Casinos Combine

The Shoshone and Arapaho tribes have done a magnificent job of moving into the 21st century while still holding on to their traditions. The tribes continue to pass on traditions through various cultural activities like powwows, storytelling, and, perhaps most importantly, crafts.

The casinos have proven to be a boon for the tribes because it brings in revenue and visitors to the area, which offers more chances to share their history and heritage. Outside of the casinos, there are local shops that showcase native arts and crafts. There are also multiple museums inside the Wind River Reservation that tell the history of the tribes and western expansion through Wyoming.

The casinos are also venues where the tribe can showcase their culture. The Wind River Casino is their largest and has a gift shop that sells local native crafts and souvenirs. There is no shortage of decor around the casinos that remind visitors of the beauty of Wyoming and the heritage of its indigenous peoples. At their heart, these casinos have become part of the Wind River culture because they provide an opportunity to showcase the tribes and their people.

A Continued Tradition

Tribal casinos are a perfect way to fund the tribes and allow them to continue to focus on their traditions. Like most tribes, the Shoshone and Arapaho have faced challenges in their community, like health crises, lack of education opportunities, and addiction issues. Casino helps to create programs to attack these issues and ensure that these proud people will continue to prosper. It's easy to read about the history and culture of the Wind River Reservation and its casinos, but it doesn't do the casinos and the area justice. The best thing you can do is visit and see for yourself the fantastic art, heritage, and culture that make the tribal casinos of Wyoming so great.