The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s president, Chalyee Eesh Richard Peterson, spoke about addiction prevention during the grand opening of Juneau’s first casino on Wednesday. The ceremonial event follows a soft open of the tribe’s Two Coppers Casino on Douglas Island last month.
“We make a commitment to the community of Juneau that this is going to be a benefit and not that poison pill for our community,” he said, addressing a crowd of more than 150 people at the opening ceremony.
While the tribe is opening this casino, he said Tlingit and Haida is simultaneously working on new programs that could intervene if community members struggle with gambling addiction.
