More than 40% of the federally recognized Native American tribes in the United States own at least one casino. All together, they account for 532 establishments in 29 states, according to the National Indian Gaming Commission. Yet only one of those is operating today in Las Vegas.
That would be the Palms, which became the first Native American-owned and operated casino in Southern Nevada when the San Bernardino-based Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation purchased it in 2021. It will likely remain the only one through 2027, when the Seminole Tribe of Florida-owned Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is expected to open at the former site of the Mirage.
Since the acquisition, tribal leaders like San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority Vice Chairwoman Carla Rodriguez have gradually ushered in aesthetic changes like new artwork at the Strip-adjacent property that better reflect its ownership and history.
“It’s changing it to who we are as a tribe,” Rodriguez says. “Being the first in Nevada, we’ve got to put our mark and personality on it, right? This is the start of doing that.”
Another milestone came when the Palms hosted its first Pow Wow Exhibition—a standalone version of a traditional cultural celebration centered around Native American music and dance—on October 13. Held on Indigenous Peoples Day, the event drew more than 500 guests across a pair of 90-minute sessions that featured drum groups, singers performing bighorn sheep and bird songs, and dozens of dancers showcasing vibrant styles like the grass dance, jingle dress, and traditional regional variations.
In addition to the camaraderie and catharsis experienced by the tribal members in attendance, co-organizer Tom Ramos says the exhibition served as a perfect opportunity to provide an “educational experience” for a whole new cast of newcomers—casino guests. For him, that visibility is crucial.
“There are not very many of us left, I think, in all tribes, and this gives us a chance to show what our culture has to offer and what once roamed this whole land here,” Ramos says. “Hopefully, it’ll make room for more.”
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