Category: News

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.   

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On Thursday, June 10, The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana’s Tribal Council presented $266,235 to the Avoyelles Parish as part of its quarterly donation to the community. As part of the gaming compact agreement that the Tribe has with the state of Louisiana, the Tribe was able to make this financial contribution due to the success of Paragon Casino Resort. Since Paragon Casino Resort opened its doors 26 years ago, the Tribe has been able to provide financial support to local entities through quarterly distributions.

Additionally, the Tribe was proud to hold an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) signing with Avoyelles Parish Police Jury President Kirby Roy. The IGA is aimed at supporting the Slim Lemoine Road improvement project, a one-mile road that will provide access further into the Tunica-Biloxi reservation, allowing for continued development of Tribal land. This development is part of the Tribe’s larger transportation and infrastructure plan and will provide new opportunities for economic growth.

“The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe is proud to continue to work with our Avoyelles Parish community through our mutually-beneficial partnership,” said Tunica-Biloxi Chairman Marshall Pierite. “The Tribe is proud to continue improving our lands, and this road will allow for greater economic and residential development. This is yet another step in the right direction.”

“We are grateful for our relationship with the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe,” said Police Jury President Kirby Roy. “When the Tribe succeeds, we all succeed thanks to the impact that they have on our community. We look forward to this continued partnership and what we can accomplish together.”

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/.