Airway Heights, WA (November 5, 2021) – This November, the Kalispel Tribe of Indians and Northern Quest Resort & Casino celebrate Native American Heritage Month with a nod to tribal history, special month-long tribal-inspired dining specials, a spa service and weekend performances by tribal dancers and drummers.
Visit Northern Quest to explore traditional Kalispel Tribal culture and learn more about the history of the Tribe. In the late 1800s, the Kalispels were in desperate need of protection and security. In 1887, the Kalispel Tribe was pressured by the United States government to move away from their homeland to another reservation in Montana. Chief Masselow remained steadfast in his refusal to leave the area, even though the Tribal population had dwindled from 1,600 Tribal members to approximately 100 in 1911. In 1914, the Tribe was granted its own reservation by executive order on their ancestral homeland in Usk, Wash., located 55 miles north of Spokane. In the last 125 years, the Kalispel Tribe has faced many challenges associated with life in remote rural areas – including unemployment, inadequate housing, substance abuse, limited economic opportunities and prejudice. With most of the land on the small reservation unsuitable for development, the Tribe was forced to develop innovative ways to create opportunity for Tribal members.
One of those ideas was to purchase additional land away from the small reservation and build a casino where Tribal members could count on gainful employment. In 1996, the Tribe secured approximately 300 acres of land in Airway Heights, including 40 acres of Reservation Trust Land designated for gaming. Since the opening of Northern Quest Resort & Casino in 2000, Tribal health and social service programs have increased the quality and life expectancy for Tribal members and those who live in surrounding communities. Today the Kalispel Tribe has more than 470 members. Approximately 35 percent of those members are under the age of 18. The smallest percentage of members are Tribal elders. The Tribe now maintains several successful businesses, provides nearly 2,000 jobs and has donated more than $20 million to regional and non-profit organizations in Spokane and Pend Oreille Counties.
Come learn more about Kalispel Tribal traditions and culture at Northern Quest throughout the month of November!
Live Performances
Enjoy traditional Native American dance and drumming performances by members of various plateau tribes on the south-eastern end of the property near Windfall:
- Saturday – November 6 – 2 to 4 p.m.
- Friday – November 12 – 4 to 6 p.m.
- Saturday – November 20 – 2 to 4 p.m.
Native-American Inspired Dining Specials
- EPIC Menu Items:
- Trout BLT – Lightly battered fried trout, arugula, tomato, bacon, lemon garlic aioli on Focaccia, served with EPIC fries
- Smoked Bison Meatloaf – House-smoked meatloaf with Hunter’s sauce, mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetable, topped with crispy red onion
- Grilled Salmon – Served with sauteed root vegetables, roasted poblano cream sauce
- Fai’s Noodle House Menu Items:
- Bison Wonton Soup – House-made rich broth, bison wontons, cabbage, carrot, green onion, sesame oil
- Wild Fried Rice – Indonesian-style fried rice, ground bison, carrot, peas, fried shallot, sunny-side up egg
- Huckleberry Crème Brûlée – Huckleberry ginger compote
- Masselow’s Steakhouse Menu Item:
- Bison Ribeye – Char-grilled, seasonal vegetable, russet purée, peppercorn demi-glace
- The Lounge at Masselow’s Menu Item:
- Bison Fry Bread – Bison four-bean chili, cheddar, pico de gallo, sour cream, house pickled jalapeños
- Fatburger Menu Item:
- Turkey Burger – sweet potato fries
- Qdoba Mexican Eats Menu Item:
- Ground beef and corn salsa burrito
- Netty’s Frybread on Fridays only (located near Fatburger) from noon to 7 p.m., Nov. 5, 12 and 19:
- Frybread
- Indian Taco
- Frybread Burger (2 patties)
- Frybread Dog (chili option)
- Frybread Pizza (pepperoni option)
- Loaded nachos
La Rive Spa Treatment:
- Sx̣sést̓iyeʔ “Sweetgrass” Pedicure – This unique service draws inspiration from the Tribal burning of sweetgrass in a ceremonial fashion to connect with the creator, pray and harness positive energy. Call 509.481.6108 to reserve your service today.
Educational Displays:
- Veterans Day display honoring Kalispel Tribal members who served in the US armed forces
- Educational display dedicated to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
- Display dedicated to the ongoing investigation of missing Native children who attended Catholic residential boarding schools
- Back-of-house Team Member-centric display honoring more than 200 employees who are enrolled members of 44 different tribes across the nation
Don’t forget to shop Native American brands in Windfall, the Tribe’s lifestyle and home goods retail store. There’s something for the kids too, including coloring sheets inside all food and beverage outlets that feature native plants and animals with Salish/English translations. Join us at Northern Quest this November and help celebrate Native American Heritage Month!