Author: Alex J.

Renovation has prepared the club to host five major events in 2021 and improve overall player experience

Paragon Casino Resort and Hotel’s Tamahka Trails Golf Club has undergone a renovation to improve player experience, prepare the course for tournaments and position the course as one of the best golf experiences in the South.

“Tamahka Trails has always had a strong reputation of having an outstanding layout, excellent greens, consistently good turf conditions and wonderful customer service,” said General Manager of Paragon Casino Resort, Jody Madigan. “With the renovations to the bunkers and the other recent enhancements, Tamakha Trails should be on your bucket list as a must play course. We welcome everyone who enjoys a beautiful and challenging layout, and we are pleased to be able to provide this wonderful course for everyone’s enjoyment.”

“Tamahka Trails is the best kept secret in golf in the state of Louisiana,” said Architect Nathan Crace, American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) Member. “There simply is no piece of property in the southern part of the state that has the unique typography and feel that this property has. Now with these new upgrades it should be on everyone’s must play list, regardless of skill level. It’s always a thrill to be part of a project like this. From the owner, to the staff to the contractor, everyone was on board from the beginning and supported what needed to be done 100 percent.”

The main aspect of this renovation was the overhaul of the course’s bunkers. Tamahka Trails has been unable to host the top state amateur golf tournaments for almost 15 years due to the condition of the course’s bunkers. This renovation included replacing all drain lines and sand, shaping the bunker complex to eliminate steep slopes, converting roughly 40,000 square feet of bunkers to grass, strategically adding small pot bunkers to four holes and implementing the Better Billy Bunker system to improve drainage and better protect the bunkers.

Additionally, the following updates and changes have been made:

• The addition of a practice green and chipping bunker;
• A new set of tees were installed measuring around 4,000 yards, as is recommended by the USGA for juniors and beginners;
• Tee boxes have been added throughout the course, including repositioning the standard men’s tees;
• New championship tees were added on seven of the course’s 18 holes, adding more than 150 yards to the length of the course;
• Upgrades to the fairway and cart paths, and  
• New and improved landscaping throughout the course and surrounding club house and parking lot.

The Paragon Casino Resort and the golf course are owned by the Tunica Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana. “We are impressed with the beautiful renovation of the Tamahka Trails Golf Club and believe that golfers and visitors to the course will be too,” said Tunica-Biloxi Tribal Chairman Marshall Pierite. “With the central location of the Paragon Casino Resort and Tamahka Trails here in Louisiana, we are the perfect destination resort course for all and are eager to welcome and host golfers here in Avoyelles Parish.”

With these major renovations complete, the course will now be able to host state championships and other major golfing events. Tamahka has already secured The Louisiana State Women’s Four Ball Championship, The Gulf States PGA Chapter Championship and All Pro Tour Paragon Championship, Golfweek Amateur Tour and the Eagle Amateur Tour Inaugural Tournament for 2021.

“Anyone who has played the golf course will immediately notice the difference in the look and playability of our bunkers. What stands out the most is the beautiful white sand and softer rolling contours surrounding the bunkers,” said Assistance General Manager of the Paragon Casino Resort and Vice-Chairman of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe Marshall Sampson. “Golfers from throughout region need to come see this outstanding golf course and enjoy the other great amenities of Paragon Casino Resort including our world-class spa, fine-dining steakhouse and newly renovated hotel rooms.” 

The Tamahka Trails Golf Club is just one of the many attractions at Paragon. The casino and resort has both adult and family-friendly entertainment options with an impressive lineup of luxury amenities including a hotel with more than 500 rooms, full-service spa and salon, indoor tropical pool with a swim-up bar, a soaring retail atrium with three shops, a “living” bayou and alligator encounters in the lobby and a three-screen cinema.

For more information on the Tamahka Trails Golf Club, click here. For more information on Paragon Casino Resort, visit – https://www.paragoncasinoresort.com/.

Contribution showcases strength and success of Paragon this year and its continued investment in the surrounding community

The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana’s Tribal Council recently announced that Paragon Casino Resort has contributed $43,974 to Avoyelles Parish.

“We take great pride in being able to provide these funds to our parish and community, especially during what has been a terribly difficult year for so many,” said Tunica-Biloxi Chairman Marshall Pierite. “We are hopeful that this funding, which comes from the community’s continued support for Paragon, will support significant improvements throughout Avoyelles Parish and better serve residents and neighbors now and into the future.”

Due to the success of Paragon Casino Resort in the third quarter of 2020, the Tribe was able to make a contribution to Avoyelles Parish which is the gaming compact agreement that the Tribe has with the state of Louisiana. Since Paragon Casino Resort opened its doors 26 years ago, the Tribe has been able to provide more than $29 million to local entities through these quarterly distributions.

“We are so glad to see that businesses like Paragon Casino Resort are thriving in our community and are grateful for what these funds will enable us to do for our parish,” said Police Jury Chairman Kirby Roy.

For more information on Paragon Casino Resort, visit – https://www.paragoncasinoresort.com/. For more information on the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, visit –  https://www.tunicabiloxi.org/.

Join us on Zoom on Tuesday, December 22^nd at 6:30 p.m. CST for a special (virtual) Christmas Greeting from Tunica-Biloxi Chairman Marshall Pierite! The Chairman will take this time to give an update to the Tribe, highlight recent accomplishments and address plans moving forward into the new year. John Barby will also use this time to introduce the new U.S. Department of Education grant titled ‘Tunica-Biloxi Education Program (TBEP) to Improve Academic Success & Career Readiness.’ You don’t want to miss this special address! All of the Zoom information can be found below.

Zoom information:

Link to join: https://zoom.us/j/98572261699?pwd=dlpaamMySDY0cGFHbk1JWUwwdG12Zz09

Meeting ID: 985 7226 1699

Passcode: 192155

On November 12^th, Donna Pierite and Elisabeth Pierite Mora led members of Procter & Gamble’s Native American Network (NAN) through a 1-hour, virtual pine needle basket workshop. Through the workshop 25 P&G staff members learned the history of the craft and were led step-by-step through how to get their baskets started.

This is just one of the many ways that Tunica-Biloxi and P&G have worked together over the years. In addition to P&G donating PPE to the Tribe at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and the company’s employees assisting at Tunica-Biloxi Pow Wows in the past, members of the Tunica-Biloxi Language and Culture Revitalization Program (LCRP) have visited P&G’s Alexandria plant and educated staff on Native American culture through Diversity and Inclusion Workshops.

“The partnership between the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe and the P&G NAI Team over the years has been remarkable,” said Brandon Vanderberg, P&G employee and leader of the Alexandria Plant’s Native American Network. “We are grateful for what they bring to our community. We hope to continue building this relationship for many years.”

The United South and Eastern Tribes (USET) recently interviewed Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana Chairman Marshall Pierite to celebrate Native American Heritage Month and learn more about what it means to him.

About United South and Eastern Tribes (USET)

Established in 1969, the United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc. (USET) is a non-profit, inter-Tribal organization promoting the interests of and advocating for 33 federally-recognized Tribal Nations from the Northeastern Woodlands to the Everglades and across the Gulf of Mexico. USET is dedicated to enhancing the development of Tribal Nations, improving the capabilities of Tribal governments, and improving the quality of life for Indian people through a variety of technical and supportive programmatic services. For more information, click here.

The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana is committed to providing assistance to eligible individuals who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Tribe will provide targeted relief payments to those who certify that they have experienced physical or financial hardship due to this public health crisis. This means any amount of this assistance will be determined by the Tribe. Those wishing to receive assistance must fill out the following application to receive assistance.

The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana respects the privacy of its members and strictly adheres to HIPAA, and all other federal data privacy laws; therefore, all form submissions will be directed to our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Webb and Mrs. Martha Ketcher, the Tribe’s Health Consultant, who are both HIPAA certified.

• Some examples of needs are:
  • Financial aid when unemployment is inadequate to meet a family’s basic needs.
  • Rent and mortgage assistance due to financial hardship caused by COVID-19.
  • A reduction in pay and or benefits from an employer because of COVID-19.
  • Financial assistance to help with caring for an elderly family member at home due to cases of COVID-19 at the family member’s residential care facility.
  • Financial assistance for food and prescription delivery because a family has member(s) that are at risk of death or serious illness from COVID-19.
  • Buying PPE for family

For more information on the Tribe’s COVID-19 response, click here.

Funds will expand Tribe’s police station and court to enhance operations

For a high-resolution photo of the Tribe’s Police Department, click here.

Marksville, LA – (Oct. 27, 2020) – The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana’s Police Department has been selected to receive the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) Grant from the United States Department of Justice. The grant is valued at $979,000 and will be used to renovate and expand the Tribe’s police station by approximately 4,100 square feet as well as expand the court which includes the addition of a law library and conference room, and a larger file room with public access. Both the Police Station and Tribal Court are located on the Tribal reservation in Marksville, Louisiana.

“We are honored to be recognized by the United States Department of Justice and to receive this generous grant to renovate our Tribe’s police station and court,” said Tunica-Biloxi Chairman Marshall Pierite. “Our Tribal Police Department is a vital part of our community, as they help ensure a safe environment for our citizens. This expansion of their facilities will help the department to improve operations.”

The project will begin in the first quarter of 2021 and is expected to last ten months.

“The Tunica-Biloxi Tribal Police Department will be able to protect our community better than ever before through the support of this grant,” said Tunica-Biloxi Police Chief Harold Pierite. “The renovation of our police department and court will be transformational for our Tribal Police and will vastly improve our day-to-day operations. We are thrilled to be able to enhance the quality of safety in our community and to better protect our beloved citizens.”

The mission of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribal Police Department is to enhance the quality of life on the reservation by providing professional police services to the public, maintain order, protect life and property, prevent crime, apprehend criminals, reduce fear and manage a safe environment by enforcing the laws of the United States Constitution, the state of Louisiana, the Parish of Avoyelles and The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana.

The primary function of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribal Court is to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana by applying the Code of Civil Procedure. The Tribal Court provides services to all tribal citizens living on and off the reservation as well as Paragon’s employees and guests.

To learn more about the United States Department of Justice’s Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) Grant, click here.

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About the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana:
The Tunica-Biloxi people first appeared in the Mississippi Valley. In the late 1700s, they settled near Marksville, where they were skilled traders and entrepreneurs. Today, the Tribe has more than 1,200 members throughout the United States, primarily in Louisiana, Texas and Illinois.

The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe received federal recognition in 1981 for its reservation within the boundaries of Louisiana. The tribe owns and operates the Paragon Casino Resort, the largest employer in Central Louisiana. Through its compact, negotiated by the late Tribal Chairman Earl J. Barbry Sr. and the State of Louisiana, the Tribe has assisted local governments in the area with its quarterly distribution of funds, totaling more than $40 million over two decades. For more information about the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, visit www.tunica.org and “like” us on Facebook. 

For photos of last year’s basketry summit, click here.
For a photo of special guest, Nan MacDonald, click here. 
For a video from the 1^st Annual Basketry Summit, click here.

Marksville, LA – (Oct. 26, 2020) – The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana’s Language and Cultural Revitalization Program (LCRP) will host its 5^th Annual Intertribal Basketry Summit on Saturday, Oct. 31 via Zoom from 10a.m. to 12 p.m.

The LCRP aims to keep Tribal citizens connected with traditional artisans and the community, which is why the 5^th Annual Basketry Summit will be hosted as a two-hour virtual weaving session. The goal of the Summit is to educate the community and younger generations on the history and culture of the Tribe through interactive, live demonstrations showcasing the unique designs the tribes are known for in an effort to keep the ancient art of basket weaving alive.

“Even though the COVID-19 pandemic won’t allow us to gather in-person for this special annual event, we are still excited to gather virtually to learn from our neighbors and come together as a community,” said John Barbry, Director of the Language and Culture Revitalization Program within the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe. “There is so much to be learned about our unique Native American culture and this event is the perfect way to celebrate our shared heritage to ensure the traditions and craft of basketry lives on for generations.”

Tunica-Biloxi Tribal citizens, as well as weavers from neighboring American Indian communities will demonstrate southeast basket traditions using long leaf pine needles, river cane and palmetto. Nan MacDonald, master weaver and cultural consultant working with the Coquille Indian Tribe on the southern Oregon coast, will be the guest presenter. Nan will be joined by Mr. Kent Rilatos, a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians and board member of the Siletz Tribal Museum, for the presentation. Together, the two will present about Bear Grass to explain it’s vital role in Pacific Northwest Culture and how it has been gathered and used for generations for making patterns on fine basketry, adornment on ceremonial regalia, necklaces and bandoliers.

Basketry is an enduring and distinguishing indigenous art form. For years, many Tunica and Biloxi weavers made baskets from local plants, such as dyed river cane, and sold the baskets, or lƆhka (in Tunica), for income. Each element of the weave and design are steeped in the history and heritage of the Tribe. The Annual Basketry Summit is just one of the many ways that the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe works to preserve its culture.

The event is free and open to the public. Participants are responsible for sourcing their own basket making materials which can be found here. All weavers and observers must have their own computer device with a camera and microphone to participant and are encouraged to register in advance by contacting Jessica Barbry, jabarbry@tunica.org, (318) 240-6469.

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About the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana:
The Tunica-Biloxi people first appeared in the Mississippi Valley. In the late 1700s, they settled near Marksville, where they were skilled traders and entrepreneurs. Today, the Tribe has more than 1,200 members throughout the United States, primarily in Louisiana, Texas and Illinois.

The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe received federal recognition in 1981 for its reservation within the boundaries of Louisiana. The tribe owns and operates the Paragon Casino Resort, the largest employer in Central Louisiana. Through its compact, negotiated by the late Tribal Chairman Earl J. Barbry Sr. and the State of Louisiana, the Tribe has assisted local governments in the area with its quarterly distribution of funds, totaling more than $40 million over two decades. For more information about the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, visit www.tunica.org and “like” us on Facebook. 

One of the most critical issues for the entire tribal membership, particularly for elder community members, is timely communications from tribal government offices. As a way to remain transparent and communicate in a timely manner, The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana is now using AlertMedia, a mass notification system, to communicate with Tribal citizens during emergency situations and to give a fast and simple way to stay safe and connected.

With the AlertMedia system, Tribal citizens will receive notifications and updates from the Tribal and Elder Councils via email, text, voice call and push notifications. Citizens can also reply to any notifications with questions or feedback, or by calling the inbound emergency phone number.

How to sign up:
Signing up for AlertMedia is easy! Follow these steps to sign up and get connected today.

1. Look for the introductory email/text message from the AlertMedia system.
2. Save the phone number associated with the introductory text message.
3. Download the ‘AlertMedia Pro’ app for your iPhone or Android.

This system was implemented by the Tribe’s Tribal Council and Elder’s Council as a way to keep citizens safe and updated on all Tribal resources and happenings. For assistance signing up or with any questions, please reach out to Karen Pierite Dorsey at HR@tunica.org.