After only being elected two weeks ago as chairman of the Chemehuevi Tribal Council, Charles Wood has made his voice be known with what he wants done in the near future. One of the top priorities is to break ground on a new casino and resort, north of Havasu Landing, right along the Colorado River.
Wood said that with the casino going up, several jobs would be created, and people can return to the reservation, who have been forced to leave the region for greener pastures. “We live just about everywhere. I have cousins who lived in France, and some Chemehuevi live in New York,” Wood said. While understanding of their situation, he wants to see a growth in local Chemehuevi, and feels jobs will do that.
Machinery was also purchased by the tribe which is necessary for a cement plant, and Wood hopes the plant comes to fruition. He pointed out the great distance for the reservation to the nearest cement plant makes pouring concrete expensive. “We have a lot of gravel driveways that need to be paved,” Wood said.
