The Pascua Yaqui Tribe broke ground on Monday for its third casino, a project officials say is steeped in cultural significance, aiming to foster economic growth while honoring the tribe’s heritage.
The new development, located in Old Pascua near Grant Road and Interstate 10, will feature a 172,000-square-foot casino with gaming tables, a high-limit room, a sportsbook, and a poker room. Additional amenities include restaurants, a parking structure with a capacity for 1,200 vehicles, and room for future expansion. The project is expected to generate nearly 500 new jobs.
As reported by AZPM News, speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Tribal Vice Chairman Peter Yucupicio emphasized the deep cultural and historical ties the tribe has to the land.
“This is our home. It’s always been our home. It all started actually here next to the Santa Cruz river basin that always gave life to Southern Arizona,” Yucupicio said, calling the project “historic” and reflective of the tribe’s perseverance.
The Old Pascua site is profoundly important for the Pascua Yaqui people. It houses sacred sites, ceremonial grounds, and tribal churches. The project was made possible through the Old Pascua Community Land Acquisition Act, passed in December 2022, which incorporated the land into the Pascua Yaqui Reservation.
“The act made this tribal community protected and preserved, not only for gaming but most importantly, for our cultural ceremonial grounds just a couple blocks away,” said OJ Flores, the tribe’s attorney general.
Flores recalled the emotional reaction to the act’s passage, noting the celebration with fireworks and tears of joy. “As we break ground here today, we celebrate another milestone and similar excitement for opportunities to come,” he added.
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, who attended the ceremony, praised the development as a step forward for tribal sovereignty.
“It is right for you to have self-determination. It is right that this land was added to the Pascua Yaqui’s reservation,” Romero said, reaffirming the city’s commitment to supporting the tribe’s vision for self-determination and economic empowerment.
Yucupicio reflected on the project’s importance as a testament to the tribe’s struggles and achievements. “It reminds me of all the battles and all the hard work, not only us getting to this point, but our elders, all the ones that we suffered through,” he said.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2025/01/14/91794-pascua-yaqui-tribe-breaks-ground-on-third-casino-in-tucsons-old-pascua
