The Stoney Nakoda First Nation of Alberta opened a $65 million casino resort on Tuesday.
Tribal leaders said the casino will help bring the reserve out of poverty. About 80 percent of residents lack jobs.
"You've got to work to earn a living, there's no doubt about that, and it goes for our membership, too," Bearspaw Chief Darcy Dixon told The Calgary Herald.
About half of the 300 employees are Native. The resort will hire more people once other parts of the facility -- including a 111-room hotel, an RV park, a truck stop and an outlet mall -- open up.
The Stoney Nakoda Reserve is home to the Bearspaw, Chiniki and Wesley bands.
Get the Story:Stoney Nakoda casino a new start for reserve (The Calgary Herald 6/11)
Stoney Nakoda First Nation gambles on new casino (CBC 6/10)