8/2/2022

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The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Morongo Band of Mission Indians and Cabazon Band of Mission Indians on Tuesday became the latest tribes in the Coachella Valley to announce plans to close their casino doors temporarily to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

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Their decisions came on the same day Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser announced the county's third coronavirus death and confirmed the county's 16th case.

After declaring a state of emergency, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians opted to temporarily shutter all tribal facilities, including its casinos, golf courses and hiking areas.

The tribe's casinos in Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage closed at 6 p.m. Tuesday, while the Indian Canyons Gold Resort in Palm Springs, Tahquitz Canyon and the Indian Canyons were scheduled to close on Wednesday.

“Pursuant to tribal law, we declared a state of emergency today for the reservation to protect the health and welfare of tribal members, tribal employees and the broader non-tribal reservation community,” Tribal Chairman Jeff Grubbe said in Tuesday's statement. “We stand ready to assist federal, tribal, local and state agencies with emergency preparedness and disaster response related to the COVID 19 global pandemic.”

© Courtesy photo Morongo Casino Resort and Spa in Cabazon, Calif.

The Morongo Casino Resort & Spa and Casino Morongo near Banning shut down at noon Tuesday, while Fantasy Springs Resort Casino near Indio was close at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The tribes expect the casinos to be closed through at least the end of the month.

Cabazon Tribal Chairman Doug Welmas said the tribal council determined this was the right decision for both guests and employees.

“The council greatly appreciates their hard work and has taken measures to ensure that they are compensated during this time,' Welmas said of the employees. 'We will continue to reassess the situation as new information becomes available, and proceed with unity, leadership and generosity.”

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The Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians joined other tribes Tuesday night in announcing the Soboba Casino Resort near San Jacinto would temporarily close from 4 p.m. Wednesday until April 1.

In a statement, the tribe said its 'team members' will receive their base pay through April 1.

'It's in God's hands'

Over the weekend, in the hopes of curbing the virus, state and county officials declared a prohibition on all gatherings of more than 10 people through April 30.

But as sovereign nations, federally recognized tribes do not have to abide by state or local orders limiting occupancy.

And, on Tuesday afternoon, before the Agua Caliente announced the closures, the main floor of the tribe's Palm Springs casino was filled with guests, including a few who wore face masks or gloves.

Casino staff continuously wiped down slot machines, which 36-year-old Wanda Holt-Smith, of Cathedral City, found comforting.

“I’m okay with (being here) because they keep it clean, you know, and I haven’t seen anyone sick here actually, so I think that’s a big part of it,” Holt-Smith said. “People aren’t coming in if they’re having symptoms, I guess.”

Taylor Hutchinson, 30, of Palm Springs, said she also was not personally worried about potentially getting the virus. Hutchinson said she has constantly washed her hands while she's been out.

She said she was a little surprised the casino was still open Tuesday, as well as how many different people were there.

“It’s a little scary in that aspect,” Hutchinson said.

If the casino were to close, she said she'd 'probably be at home anyways because my job might close too.”

Phillip Carlton, 51, a Palm Springs Unified School District teacher, said he would “stay home and eat.”

Carlton said he typically goes to the tribe’s Rancho Mirage casino but he felt safer at the Palm Springs location because he expected more locals than visitors there.

Cherry Valley resident Mike Willhide, who is 71 and considered to be at increased risk of contracting the coronavirus, seemed unfazed. He said he and his wife headed to the Palm Springs casino Tuesday after discovering the Morongo Casino had closed. The couple hoped to enjoy St. Patrick's Day with some corned beef and cabbage at the Morongo Casino.

Willhide, who said he operates an electric wholesale business, said he absolutely wanted the Agua Caliente casino to stay open. He described himself as a “pretty healthy” individual.

“It’s in God’s hands,” Willhide said.

Asked what he meant exactly, Willhide added, “Whether I die or not. If you believe in God, that’s what it’s all about.”

More closures, but some casinos still open

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Over the past few days, the San Manuel Casino, Augustine Casino and Pechanga Resort Casino have all suspended their operations over concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.

All of the tribes that have closed their casinos have committed to providing their employees with pay and benefits during their closures.

Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, Caesars Entertainment Corp. has begun laying off employees due to sudden, unexpected reduced business as a result of the pandemic, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported Sunday.

Other casinos in the region announced last week that they were cancelling shows and stepping up their cleaning protocols, but several remained open as of Tuesday, including:

  • Red Earth Casino, operated by Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians
  • Cahuilla Casino Hotel, operated by Cahuilla Band of Indians
  • Tortoise Rock Casino and Spotlight 29 Casino, operated by Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians

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Private schools on the Morongo reservation, which serve preschool age children through ninth graders, have temporarily closed. The Noli Indian School on the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians reservation, which is operated by the Bureau of Indian Education, is closed through the end of the week, at least.

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Asked if or when the Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians might close its casino, Tribal Vice Chairman Joseph Mirelez said they take 'health and safety concerns seriously and we're figuring out what is the best course of action, which includes possibly closing in the near future.”

He declined to provide any further detail.

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The Cahuilla Band of Indians did not respond to a request for comment and a spokesman for the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians declined to comment for this story.

Hours

Risa Johnson covers Native American affairs in the Coachella Valley and beyond. She can be reached at risa.johnson@desertsun.com or (760) 778-4737. Follow her on Twitter @risamjohnson.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Coronavirus: Agua Caliente, Fantasy Springs, Morongo latest Coachella Valley casinos to announce temporary closures