Fearstraffic will cut through residential areas When you look at that, you look at the federal laws, our laws prevail and supercede the provincial laws and we are very clear on that from day one,' he said.Įven though the smoking issue needs final approval from band council, the casino has already installed a $2-million air-filtration system that pumps in fresh air. Bigplume said the band is waiting for approval on allowing smoking in the complex through a federal loophole. 1, does not apply to the First Nation's casino. The province's new smoking ban, which comes into effect Jan. Casino trying to circumvent smoking bylaw 'We can now create programs to get kids out going to school, to institutions where a lot can't go now,' Bigplume said. The remaining 30 per cent goes to the band, as owners of the casino, to spend or reinvest as it chooses. Seventy per cent of the profits from Grey Eagle will be split three ways between the province, Tsuu T'ina community projects and other Alberta First Nations. 'Years ago, we understood that in order to create opportunity and hope for our young people, we needed to create opportunities here by us and for us.'īigplume hopes revenue from the casino, which boasts 600 slot machines, will help fund social programs and housing on the reserve. 'It's a result of a vision by our people and the start of a new beginning for our people,' said Sandford Bigplume, chief of the Tsuu T'ina First Nation. Thousands of people visited the Grey Eagle Casino within the first few hours of its opening Wednesday.

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