Next Saturday, 17 June the Chickasaw Nation will hold an informational job fair as it continues its drive to fill jobs at the Riverwind Casino. Due to open on 17 July, the Riverwind will be Oklahoma’s largest casino and is creating 1700 jobs in the state. The following month, on 30 August 2006, the tribe will be celebrating Chickasaw Constitution Day in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the ratification of the document that 'recognized and established the general, great and essential principles of Liberty and Free government.’

The Chickasaw Nation has a long history of successful business ventures. At the time of its first contact with Europeans in 1540 the tribe was already a highly organized settled trading nation with developed laws and religion, and it became known as one of the ‘Five Civilized Tribes’ along with the Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek and Seminole. In 1837 the tribe was moved from its original Mississippi, Kentucky, Alabama and Tennessee areas to Indian Territory, for resettlement amongst the Choctaw, but in 1856 the Chickasaw established their own government with its capital at Tishomingo. After the Civil War, when the tribe was allied with the Confederacy, the Chickasaw rebuilt and opened some of the first schools, banks and businesses in Indian Territory.

Today the Chickasaw Nation has eleven gaming centres plus the Riverwind. It also has gaming machines in six convenience stores in southern Oklahoma and other business interests including two radio stations, a newspaper in Newcastle, Bedré Chocolates (with 3 types of chocolate covered potato crisps amongst other more usual offerings), banks, a metal factory and is a contract manufacturer of homes for military bases. The tribe has invested in the infrastructure to support the new casino and is building a water tower and sewage plant to serve the expected influx of tourists.

Riverwind Casino will be a major entertainment centre and tourist attraction. It has a 1500-seat concert theatre, an event centre, two restaurants and a food court, 300-seat VIP mezzanine and the casino will offer 2,200 electronic gaming machines and 70 gaming tables with blackjack and poker. Oklahoma law specifically prohibits roulette and dice games but allows non house banked card games. Riverwind, which should be operational within one year of ground being broken on the project, is expected to attract visitors from neighbouring states as well metropolitan Oklahoma. (E-06.12.06)

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