Seven Clans Red Lake Casino
A new location with attractive amenities
Blackjack, 300 poker and slot machines, 40 hotel rooms, a swimming pool carved in the shape of Upper and Lower Red Lake, restaurant, gift shop, banquet hall and convention center that seats up to 700, are designed to give the casino on the Red Lake Reservation a competitive edge in northern Minnesota. The 70,000 square foot Seven Clans Red Lake Casino is located on the southern edge of the reservation.
Built in just nine months, the project moves the Red Lake Band toward being more self-sufficient while also helping it tear down social barriers.
To celebrate the heritage and culture unique to the tribe, the building design reflects the shape of a traditional long house – or “gathering place”. The goal was to create a first-class facility that had a north woods flavor with contemporary elements. Not only were the woodlands incorporated into the design, but rippling images of the shimmering blue Red Lake were as well. The entry flanking facades are finished with sparkling blue metal that mimic the effect of sunlight on the water of Red Lake. The panels - Alucobond Spectra Colors - change colors as different wavelengths of light are reflected back to the audience, depending upon the viewing angle.
The Warrior Grill, accessible from the casino and by a separate entrance, is an intimate dining restaurant offering a variety of fine food. The interiors and overall design was inspired by the Native American round house. Table seating is centered on the double-sided fire place, while booth seating lines the outer walls. Traditional Native American patterns infused with modern bright colors adorn the walls and floors.
The planning process included input from tribal community members in addition to tribal stakeholders. During construction, the project generated 90 construction jobs, half of them going to tribal members. The Red Lake Casino project represents one of the first time Indian tribal members have held key managerial roles in overseeing the construction of a casino project. This action exceeded the requirements of a federal law called Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance (TERO), which gives Indian tribes the ability to demand that contractors hire Indian workers as part of their crew. Currently, the casino and hotel employs nearly 115 people, mostly tribal members.
Spin-off developments from the casino are in the works. Red Lake Band has plans to expand its law enforcement center, start a propane business and build a forestry greenhouse. They are also building a small retail center close to the casino that will sell gas, groceries and Ojibwe goods such as jams, wild rice, syrup and crafts.
