The four-story, 95,000-square-foot administration building is the first phase of redevelopment for the 17.6-acre site of the former Emerald Queen casino tents in Tacoma. Councilmember Fred Dillon – “The future is so bright, just to know where we are going and everything we have in front of us.”Ĭonstruction will begin in earnest the first week in April.This is one big happy great adventure for all of us.” Councilmember Monica Miller – “I witnessed all of this, worked here all my life.We started out over here in the graveyard, we were here at Cascadia, they went out to the boat property, now they’re on Portland Avenue and it’s basically a homecoming.” Councilmember Anna Bean – “This new project has everything to do with healing and resiliency of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians.Councilmember James Rideout – “To be standing up here today thinking about how important it is to encompass all of our programs in one central place, that’s a big feat in itself.”.Councilmember Annette Bryan – “My heart is full with all that we’re able to do today from where we came from.”.Vice Chairwoman Sylvia Miller – “Through all the things we have gone through, our ancestors have gone through, this is a blessing.”.Chairman Bill Sterud – “There are a lot of chapters in our book, and one of them is right here as we build our own admin building.”.

The Tribe occupied Cascadia in the 1970s and used it for administration until it was torn down and replaced by modern facilities. Heritage Manager Connie McCloud gave a blessing, and the Culture Department sang before Tribal Councilmembers shared their thoughts about the site’s history, the new building’s importance and symbolism of how much the Tribe has grown in the decades since administrative functions took place out of trailer space.Ĭhairman Bill Sterud and other councilmembers noted that the old Cascadia center, once Cushman Indian Hospital, once towered over the area. PUYALLUP RESERVATION, Tacoma, Wash.-The Puyallup Tribe has broken ground on a brand new Tribal Administration building.Ībout 100 people turned out on a cold Friday morning for a ceremony held for Tribal community members and employees on March 24.

Emerald queen casino expansion