Category: News

Following the latest developments with Tropical Storm Ida, we wanted to share several updates with you on accommodations and resources that are available to you. As mentioned previously, we encourage those in its path to reach out with any needs.
 
Impacts from the storm are expected starting on Saturday, August 28. We continue to watch the track and the storm’s progress. We hope that you and your families are taking all of the necessary precautions to prepare.

PARAGON ROOM BLOCK FOR TRIBAL CITIZENS

For your safety, we have reserved a block of rooms at Paragon Casino Resort, free of charge for Tribal citizens who live in the path of the storm. Rooms will be available from Sunday, August 29 to Tuesday, August 31. 

If you and your family are in need of a safe place to stay during the storms, we have included instructions below on our process for reserving a room. These rooms will be assigned on a first come first served basis and Tribal citizens will be asked for their Tribal role number when booking. If your group is larger than four people, you will be allowed to book a second room. Please note, these rooms are intended for Tribal citizens only.

n addition to making shelter arrangements, we encourage all of our Tribal citizens to follow advisories from state and local officials as well as the National Weather Service and make the necessary preparations to shelter in place including stocking up on food, water and supplies. For recommended hurricane preparations, click here. 
Please also check-in on any Tribal elders or family members that might need assistance with these preparations.

We also advise that our Tribal citizens continue to take precautions to protect your health amid the COVID-19 pandemic. For the latest information on COVID-19, visit the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) website and the CDC website.

Additionally, we are here for those who will be impacted by these weather events. If you or your family are in need, we ask that you fill out this form to apply for assistance through our Catastrophic Relief Fund.

We are in this together and will get through these difficult times. As we continue our response to Tropical Storm Ida and any other severe weather events through the remainder of the year, we encourage all of you to reach out to the Tribal Council with any needs you might have. Your health and safety is our top priority.

APPLY ONLINE:
To apply for a room in the Tunica-Biloxi evacuation block at Paragon Casino Resort, we ask that you fill out the form linked below. This will help us to better prepare for your visit and accommodate those in need in an efficient way. As a reminder, these rooms are for Tunica-Biloxi citizens only. 

Apply for a room at Paragon.

APPLY OVER THE PHONE:
Tunica-Biloxi citizens are also welcome to call to request a room at Paragon. Please have your tribal role numbers prepared. 

To request a room, please call the Tribe’s Social Service Department at 318-240-6444 or 318-240-6455.

We are pleased to introduce Dr. Dana Mays to the Tunica-Biloxi community. Dr. Mays stepped into the role of Chief Medical Officer on February 1, 2021 and has already made a huge impact on Tribal citizens and employees. 

Dr. Mays, along with Dr. Webb, and all of our healthcare employees, have done an excellent job of keeping our community safe and healthy through the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I’d like to personally thank all of our Tunica-Biloxi healthcare workers for keeping our community healthy and safe always, but especially during this pandemic. We are grateful for you all every day, and are excited to add Dr. Mays to this first-class team.” – Chairman Marshall Pierite

“My new work with the Tribe is both exciting and in line with what I’ve always practiced – allowing my patients to have better primary care that supports the whole body: physically, mentally, spiritually, and any other needs they may have,” Dr. Mays commented. “This is a wonderful opportunity and I look forward to continuing to offer top notch medical care to those friends and neighbors throughout my community.”

In her most recent role, Dr. Mays provided contracted physician services to the central Louisiana community through her practice, Yapha MD, offering personalized, high-quality, accessible care from a kind and loving family physician. Dr. Mays will continue to operate her clinic in Pineville, LA in addition to her work with the Tribe

The Tunica-Biloxi health department strives to provide quality and professional healthcare to all of our members and their families on a personal level. The care provided by Dr. Mays and her team is critical in both preventing and addressing any medical concerns Tribal citizens may have and to promote a healthy lifestyle and general overall wellness.  

To make an appointment with a member of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribal Health Center, please call (318) 240-6435. 

We are excited to announce the addition of three new Academic Counselors to the Education Department! Antonio Brown, stationed in the Chicago branch office, provides support to families in the Illinoi Group, Julie Zahn, stationed at the American Indian Center of Houston, supports families in the Texas group and Leslie Carmouche, stationed in Marksville, supports students (grades K-5) in the Louisiana Group. Please join us in welcoming these teachers to our community.

They will be reaching out to parents and students soon!

Lapuya ‘Akawitiki (Welcome)!!!!

Click here to download the August Meeting Presentation

Due to the rise of COVID-19 cases in our community, the Tunica-Biloxi Offices are temporarily closed. However, your Tribal Council is still working hard to ensure Tribal citizens receive essential and critical services during this closure.

Although Government Offices are closed to the public, departments are working remotely from their homes, with a few essential employees operating in the departments to ensure the needs of our Tribal citizens and their families are continuing to be met. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we continue to navigate this pandemic.

For any questions or needs you may have, please contact the Tribe at info@tunica.org or (318) 253-9767.

Tribal Citizens: Please complete the below survey to help your Tribal Council accurately assess the housing, education and health needs of our community.

Click Here to take the survey.

Due to the rise of COVID-19 cases in our community, we are closing the Tunica-Biloxi Offices until further notice. We will notify citizens when offices reopen. 

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we continue to navigate this pandemic. 

For any questions or needs in the meantime, please contact the Tribe at (318) 253-9767 or info@tunica.org.

Tunica-Biloxi Tribe announces the new Tunica-Biloxi COVID Economic Rescue
Program for Tribal-Member Businesses. Qualifying applicants may be eligible for
economic support and/or reimbursement of costs in connection with the COVID-19 public
health emergency. Because funding is limited, a qualifying applicant will receive no more
than $15,000 (amount has to be justified) related to this program. Applicants must complete
the COVID Economic Rescue Program for Tribal-Member Businesses application.

Eligibility for Tribal Member-Owned Businesses
• Businesses must be at least 51% owned by the Tunica-Biloxi Tribal Member.
• The Tribal-Member business has to be the primary source of income for the Tribal
Member household (at least 51% of income has to be derived from the business
entity).
• Must have less than 50 part-time or full-time employees prior to March 11, 2021 and
in operation prior to March 11, 2021;
• Must be able to demonstrate they have faced financial hardship due to the COVID-19
public health emergency.

Filing of Application
A tribal member shall request an application from Jessica Barbry, Budget & Data
Analyst, the employee assigned to coordinate this program. Application submissions may
be either emailed, hand-delivered, or mailed to Jessica Barbry. For email submissions,
please send the application to jabarbry@tunica.org. For mail submissions, please submit
the application to the following address:
Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana
Attn: Jessica Barbry, Budget & Data Analyst
150 Melacon Road
Marksville, LA 71351

In spring of 2016, the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe and the Tunica-Biloxi Gaming Authority asked the Mohegan Tribe and Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE) – a master developer and operator of premier global integrated entertainment resorts – to act as the manager of their Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville, Louisiana.  Over the course of those five years of partnership, the Resort successfully navigated to reduce its debt by over two-thirds and recently refinanced its outstanding debt on very favorable terms. In addition, a number of employee benefits were reinstated, including the 401k match, bonus program, annual raises and implementation of minimum wage above the required state minimum.  If this positive momentum continues the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe is positioned to be debt free in just seven years.    

Based on the tools, framework and guidance of this partnership, the Tunica-Biloxi Gaming Authority will assume full management of Paragon Casino Resort.  The Mohegan Tribe is confident they will continue their upward trend and wish our friends at the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe great prosperity.

“The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe is grateful for the management and leadership Mohegan Sun has provided the Tribe,” said Marshall Pierite, chairman of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana.  “This has been a true Nation-to-Nation collaboration and we will continue to work with Mohegan Sun for the overall benefit of Indian Country to ensure the growth, empowerment, and benefit of our sovereignty for generations to come.”

“This has been a great business partnership built on understanding and the mutual respect of our tribal journeys.  We look forward to continuing our work together on national issues and making Indian Country stronger and safer for all indigenous people,” said Mohegan Chairman James Gessner.