A 10.4-acre site owned by the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation surrounding its Mystery Lake Hotel in Thompson, Manitoba, Canada recently was granted urban reserve status. Tribal officials said they are looking into ways to develop the property, including building a casino. Chief Marcel Moody said, “It gives us a lot of opportunities for increased revenues, to expand our portfolio and create new opportunities for our people.”
According to local restrictions, the site cannot be used for a casino. However Moody said the tribe plans to partner with the Keewatin Tribal Council on a viability study to determine if the city can support a tribal casino, which would be the seventh in Manitoba. “There’s a moratorium on building a casino on our property but, working with the city of Thompson, maybe we can still build a casino here in Thompson somewhere. We haven’t made a commitment one way or another,” Moody said.
Other options for the site include an office complex and a service station. “It’s not all about us. We have a vested interest in maintaining the economic viability of Thompson. The more people we can attract to Thompson, the better it is for both the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and for Thompson,” Moody stated.
