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Shooting Star CaSinoShooting Star Casino, Hotel and Event Center, located in Mahnomen,

Minnesota, is one of the top entertainment destinations in the region.

Owned and operated by the White Earth Nation, Shooting Star is home

to Las Vegas-style gaming, big name concerts, award-winning dining,

soothing spa treatments, shopping and luxurious accommodations, in

addition to nearly 30,000 square feet of event/meeting space.

reservations: 800.453.STAR(7827) | tickets: 800.313.SHOW(7469)

Business office: 218.935.2711 | Fax: 218.935.2206

777 Casino Road | Mahnomen, MN 56557 | starcasino.com

WHITE EARTH HISTORY

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hiStory oF White earth nationThe White Earth Nation was created on March 19, 1867, during a treaty signing in

Washington D.C. between the United States and the Mississippi Band of Chippewa

Indians. The treaty in part, stated:

“...and there shall be set apart, by selections to be made in their behalf and reported to

the Interior Department by the agent, one half section of land each, upon the Gull Lake

reservation, for Min-a-ge-shig [Fine Day] and Truman A. Warren, who shall be entitled

to patents for the same upon such selections being reported to the Department.”

Soon after President Andrew Johnson signed the treaty, Mississippi Band of Chippewa

Indians’ Chief White Cloud and Chief Fine Day were among the first to move to the

northwest Minnesota land known for its layer of white clay underneath the surface,

aptly named the White Earth Reservation.

150 years later, it is one of the largest Indian tribes in the United States, and the

largest of the seven Chippewa reservations in Minnesota, with about 23,000 enrolled

tribe members, 8,000 of whom live on the White Earth Reservation. The reservation’s

land area is also massive, covering more than 1,800 square miles (829,440 acres) along

the seam that separates the fertile farmland of the Red River Valley from the lakes

and woods of northern Minnesota. Located approximately 68 miles from Fargo,

North Dakota, and 225 miles from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, the reservation

encompasses three northwestern Minnesota counties – Mahnomen, Becker and

Clearwater. This includes 530 lakes, 300 miles of rivers and streams, 951 miles of

County, State, Federal and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) roads (not including logging

roads and trails), and 1,500 miles of snowmobile trails.

The White Earth Nation is governed by the five-member White Earth Tribal Council,

whose overriding mission is to preserve, promote and enhance the tribe’s quality of

life. With their leadership, the tribe has established well-known programs, services

and businesses throughout the years, such as the Shooting Star Casino, Hotel and

Event Center in Mahnomen, once one of Minnesota’s poorest cities. With nearly 1,000

slot machines, 386 hotel rooms and around 1,000 employees, Shooting Star is White

Earth’s most successful initiative to date, contributing approximately $7 million to $8

million per year to the tribe’s economy and to the northwest region of Minnesota.

SHOOTING STAR HISTORY

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hiStory oF Shooting Star CaSino, hotel & event CenterWhile traditionally known for the gentle rolling prairies of wild rice country (Manoonin

translated as wild rice in Ojibwe), the top attraction in Mahnomen, Minnesota, is that it’s

home to the Shooting Star Casino, Hotel and Event Center. Gaming operations began in

November 1991 in temporary facilities. A new facility was completed and operations

moved to the new facility for the grand opening in May 1992. With a $30 million,

145,300-square-foot expansion in 2001, Shooting Star has become one of the top gaming

and entertainment draws for the region, representing a significant revenue enterprise for

northwest Minnesota and for its tribal owners – the White Earth Nation.

In addition to a Las Vegas-style, 72,055-square-foot casino with nearly 1,000 slot machines,

12 blackjack tables, a 365-seat bingo hall and poker selections such as Seven-Card Stud and

Texas Hold ’Em, Shooting Star is home to a 15,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art concert

venue, nearly 30,000 square feet of event space, a 386-room hotel, the full-service

Sereniitee Spa, gift shop, Star Mart, and dining and drinking establishments, such as

2 ONE 8 and the Mustang Lounge.

Shooting Star is not only a gaming and entertainment destination, but it is also one of the

largest economic resources for the northwest Minnesota region. Its wages and benefits

total around $27 million a year and nearly 1,000 are employed. Nearby businesses have had

increases in sales, traffic and demand. In the nearly 20 years since Shooting Star’s grand

opening, Mahnomen County’s unemployment rate has dropped significantly and its labor

force has risen. 

SHOOTING STAR FACTS - 2011

Shooting Star FaCtS – 2011Shooting Star Casino, Hotel and Event Center, located in Mahnomen, Minnesota, is one of

the top entertainment destinations in the Midwest. Owned and operated by the White Earth

Nation, Shooting Star is home to gaming, live concerts, dining, shopping, spa treatments and

luxurious accommodations, in addition to nearly 30,000 square feet of event/meeting space.

GAMING OPTIONSShooting Star has all the best of Las Vegas-style gaming on its 72,055-square-foot casino floor.

Gaming options include nearly 1,000 slot machines, 12 blackjack tables, a 365-seat bingo hall,

and poker selections including Seven-Card Stud and Texas Hold ’Em.

ENTERTAINMENTShooting Star features some of the biggest names in entertainment at its state-of-the-art

concert venue, the 15,000-square-foot Shooting Star Event Center.

HOTELThe on-site Shooting Star Hotel features 386 rooms, 24 suites, the full-service Sereniitee Spa,

a glass-enclosed indoor pool, hot tub and atrium.

FOOD/BEVERAGEIn addition to full-service catering and cocktail service throughout the property, Shooting Star

is home to four on-site dining options, including the fine dining restaurant 2 ONE 8, casual fare

Whispering Winds, Delights Deli, and the Traditions Buffet, as well as the Mustang Lounge.

LOCATIONLocated at 777 Casino Road in Mahnomen, Minnesota, Shooting Star Casino, Hotel & Event

Center is 35 miles north of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota; 70 miles northeast of Fargo, North Dakota;

and 250 miles northwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul.

LEADERSHIPEdward Hanson, General Manager; ehanson@starcasino.com; 218-935-2811, Ext 7202

Bill Marsh, Marketing Director; wmarsh@starcasino.com; 218-935-2811, Ext 7430

Jim Foster, Public Relations Coordinator; jfoster@starcasino.com; 218-935-2811, Ext 7274

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Shooting Star leaDerShiP – 2011Shooting Star Casino, Hotel and Event Center,

located in Mahnomen, Minnesota, is one of the

top entertainment destinations in the region.

Owned and operated by the White Earth Nation,

Shooting Star is home to gaming, live concerts,

dining, shopping, spa treatments and luxurious

accommodations, in addition to nearly 30,000

square feet of event/meeting space.

SHOOTING STAR LEADERSHIP - 2011

EDWARD HANSON | General Manager – Shooting Star

Hanson is a White Earth tribal member with extensive experience in Indian gaming, holding positions

such as Shift Manager, Human Resources Director and General Manager at Cass Lake, Minnesota-

based Leech Lake Gaming, as well as General Manager of Seven Clans Casino in Red Lake, Minn. He

holds a degree in Business Administration with emphasis in Finance from Bemidji State University in

Bemidji, Minn.

BILL MARSH | Marketing Director – Shooting Star

Marsh is a member of Michigan’s Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians and has more than 10 years of

marketing experience in Indian gaming. He has been responsible for all facets of casino marketing,

including strategy development, branding, advertising, media, promotions, player tracking, database

(mining and analysis), direct mail, entertainment and in-house graphics. Bill has a master’s degree in

Marketing and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Lake Superior State University in

Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

JAMES “JIM” FOSTER | Public Relations Coordinator – Shooting Star

Foster graduated in 1962 from Fosston High School in Fosston, Minnesota, before serving in the

U.S. Army from 1962-1965, where he was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia, and in Germany. After

attending junior college, he accepted a position with the state of Minnesota as an Assistant Program

Manager for labor programs covering the northern portion of the state. He then was appointed as

Program Director for the White Earth Tribal Council and later became the tribe’s Executive Director.

In addition, he was the first coordinator during the construction of Shooting Star Casino and hired

staff to prepare for the casino’s opening. He was soon after named Shooting Star’s Public Relations

(PR) Coordinator until he had to undergo a lung transplant. After a successful operation, Foster

resumed his position in the PR department. He is proud to have served more than 20 years with

the White Earth Nation and its Shooting Star Casino, Hotel and Event Center.

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DR. ERMA J. VIzENOR | Chairwoman – White Earth Nation

Dr. Vizenor was elected as the Chairwoman of the White Earth Reservation in 2004 and is the first

woman to lead the largest tribe in Minnesota. As Chairwoman, she represents all districts both on

and off the White Earth Reservation. She previously served as White Earth’s Secretary/Treasurer.

Dr. Vizenor has worked her entire career in education on the White Earth Reservation. She holds

an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education; a master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling;

and a specialist degree in Education Administration from Minnesota State University-Moorhead. A

Bush Leadership Fellowship also gave her the opportunity to earn a master’s degree in Community

Decision-Making and Lifelong Learning and a doctoral degree in Administration, Planning, and Social

Policy from Harvard University. Dr. Vizenor is committed to building a strong infrastructure within the

White Earth Reservation, one that is necessary in order to exercise sovereignty, self-governance, and

service to the tribal citizens.

ROBERT DURANT | Secretary/Treasurer – White Earth Nation

Durant was born in Mahnomen, Minnesota, and has made his home in various parts of the

reservation prior to settling back in Mahnomen. He attended high school in Mahnomen, Waubun

and North High School in Minneapolis, and obtained higher education from Bemidji State University

in Bemidji, Minn., Detroit Lakes Vocational School in Detroit Lakes, Minn., and White Earth Tribal

and Community College in Mahnomen, Minn. Durant is a veteran of the U.S. Army and National

Guard, and remains active in the Veterans’ Association and Honor Guard. Prior to being elected

White Earth’s Secretary/Treasurer, Durant was a financial worker for Clay County Social Services

from 1987-1991, followed by self-employment from 1991-2001 as owner-operator of a tree service

and as a construction contractor. In 2001, he was hired as White Earth’s Tribal Employments Rights

Ordinance (TERO) Director, before spending nine years as the Executive Director for the White Earth

Housing Authority. Having been elected to the tribal council in June 2010, Durant performs duties

including directing the finances for the White Earth Tribal Council and representing tribal

membership reservation-wide. One of Durant’s top priorities is to work toward tribal nations

being recognized and treated as sovereign nations.

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IRENE “RENE” AUGINAUSH | District 1 Representative – White Earth Nation

Auginaush was born in White Earth, Minnesota, and was raised in the tribal community of Rice

Lake. She graduated in 1970 from Bagley High School in Bagley, Minn., and then attended Bemidji

State University in Bemidji, Minn. Auginaush represents the villages of Rice Lake, Pine Bend and the

outlying areas. She was appointed District I Representative in June 1996 and was elected to office in

a special election by a large margin in March 1997. The people of District I reaffirmed their trust and

confidence in her ability to meet their needs by reelecting her to four-year terms in June 1998, 2002,

2006 and again in 2010.

TERRENCE “TERRy” TIBBETTS SR. | District II Representative – White Earth Nation

Tibbetts was born in White Earth, Minnesota, and is a traditional lifelong resident of the White Earth

Reservation. He represents the villages of Naytahwaush, Mahnomen and Waubun, as well as the

residents of the outlying areas. He was first elected as District II Representative in 2006 and was

then reelected in 2010. He attended school in Naytahwaush, Mahnomen and in Detroit Lakes, Minn.

His employment history includes an impressive 32 years of service for White Earth Public Works. He

is also active in Powwow committees, the Naytahwaush Community Charter School, and many other

activities that support traditional teachings.

KENNETH “GUS” BEVINS | District III Representative – White Earth Nation

Bevins was born in White Earth, Minnesota, and has lived on the White Earth Reservation most

of his life. Bevins represents the villages of White Earth, Pine Point and Elbow Lake, and tribal

membership in the towns of Callaway and Ogema and the outlying areas. He attended school at St.

Benedict’s Mission, in White Earth, Minn., then in St. Paul, Minn., and later, Waubun High School in

Waubun, Minn. Bevins graduated from Northwest Technical College in Detroit Lakes, Minn., and was

employed by Bob’s Machine and Manufacturing and the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe’s Construction

Company before he held the position of Public Works Director of the White Earth Reservation for 21

years. He is currently the fire chief for the White Earth Fire Department and has served in this

position for 29 years. Most recently, he worked for Vareberg Well Drilling and Gordon Construction,

until being elected District III Representative in June 2000 and reelected in 2004 and 2008.

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