The Ho-Chunk Nation and local leaders officially broke ground at a ceremony held on Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at Ho-Chunk Gaming Wittenberg as one of three casinos involved with the Ho-Chunk Nation’s $153 million casino expansion project.
The expansion project will encompass additions beneficial to our guests; an expanded gaming floor to add 200 more slot machines, a non-smoking gaming area, 10 Table Games, improvements to the Snack bar, transformation of the bar, enhanced dining options to include a sundry and a three meal restaurant, an 86 room Hotel and overall building system upgrades.
As the storms rolled in and out of the area the night before with chances of possible thunderstorms the day of the ceremony, weather was beautiful to conduct a highly successful ceremony with approximately 150 guests in attendance.
Leading the groundbreaking event was master of ceremony and former Ho-Chunk Nation President, Jon Greendeer, who introduced Ms. Dolli BigJohn; one of eight elite Ho-Chunk Nation tribal elders. With the help from family and friends, a beautiful Lord’s Prayer was sung to start the day off right. A special show for the guests came from the Wasira Dance Troupe led by Elliott Funmaker and the Lake Delton Singers led by Allen Cloud.
Guest speakers for the event were Fletcher Collins – Ho-Chunk Gaming Wittenberg Executive Manager, Robert Reider – Ho-Chunk Nation Senior Marketing Manager, President Wilfrid Cleveland, Kathy DeCamp – Ho-Chunk Nation Legislator and Royce Alsbach – Miron Project Management Vice President.
As the speakers took us down memory lane with stories of local leaders like Dallas WhiteWing, you could not help to think the long road it took the Nation to be where it is this present day. The hard work and dedication throughout the years played a significant role in the Groundbreaking Ceremony that took place.
In closing, a special recognition was made in honor of Dallas WhiteWing; one of Wittenberg’s local community tribal elders who had a huge impact within the community. Natanha Bellanger, daughter of Dallas WhiteWing, drove six hours to be a part of the ceremony as Ho-Chunk Gaming Wittenberg wrapped a Pendleton blanket around her as the Lake Delton singers sang his song.
A special Thank you goes to Ona WhiteWing Garvin who wrote the following:
“Dallas R. Whitewing was born on April 10, 1946 in Mauston, Wisconsin. He was the first son of George Whitewing II and Violet (Bigthunder) Whitewing. He was welcomed by the older sisters, Gloria and Ona. He was to be followed by other siblings: Gary, Georgianne, John, Lauren and Robert.
He attended Wittenberg High School and loved the sports of wrestling and football and established life long friendships with his colleagues. Dallas graduated from Wittenberg High School in 1964. He worked at various jobs in the Milwaukee, and Twin Cities areas for four years. On March 14, 1968 he joined the United States Marine Corps.
In the Marine Corps he was a Radio Telegraph operator and served in the Vietnam War. He was Point man on many missions. This experience was the most shattering encounter of his entire life and he witnessed the death of many of his fellow Marines.
During his service he earned a National Defense Service Medal; Vietnamese Service medal; Vietnamese Campaign Medal; Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and Combat Action Ribbon. He was Honorably Discharged at CommCo, SDT, MCB, MCDEC, Quantico, Virginia, on December 3, 1971.
He did not speak of the unspeakable but did come back to participate in the traditional duties in naming and feathering ceremonies for his family. After a time fraught with Traumatic Stress disorder from his Vietnam combat experiences, he emerged in a new forge of strength to assist the Hocak Nation.
Dallas ran for elected office of the Ho-Chunk Nation. He was elected in 1993. He served four consecutive terms: 1993-1995; 1995-1999; 1999-2003; and 2003-2007. There were many accomplishments, wherein he worked to solidify the unity of the Ho-Chunk Nation. At one time there was a split in the 12 member governing body but because he was concerned about the Head Start children possibly not being able to continue due to this split he worked to bring the governing body together. Without a unified governing body the Ho-Chunk Tribe could not continue to receive various funding for tribal members and he brought opposing sides together.
He was adamant about better housing for the Nation. As a young boy he helped his father dismantle some buildings, salvage the lumber and build additional space to the family home. From that experience he remained committed to achieve good and standard housing for tribal members.
His greatest pride was in working toward the recognition of other Native Americans who served in Vietnam. The Native Warriors went unrecognized and unappreciated by the United States Government. He garnered support and funds to help establish a monument dedicated to those Native Warrior Brothers who gave their lives, the ultimate sacrifice, in the Vietnam War. This monument of a Native Warrior carrying an Eagle Feather Flag and a rifle can be seen at the High Ground Memorial at Neillsville, Wisconsin.
After his service on the Ho-Chunk Legislature he also worked to establish a program for Ho-Chunk Veterans Housing which was passed by the General Council of the Ho-Chunk Nation. The Ho-Chunk Legislature has strived to fulfill this law passed by the General Council and it is still a work in progress. Dallas dedication was through his experience when after the War he had no place of his own to live and often slept on the ground or in his car. He did not want to see other Veterans suffer this same fate upon their return from armed conflict.
He was determined to establish another gaming facility at Wittenberg, Wisconsin, because he felt that the tourist traffic would make this a profitable site for a casino. The third “ancillary” casino was built at Wittenberg on Highway 45 North and has proven to be a profitable venture.
He also helped to support charitable contributions to communities located where Ho-Chunk tribal members live. Many contributions benefited other children and communities during his tenure in tribal office. High schools, children’s diabetes foundation, Special Olympics, Fire Departments and like charitable organizations.
In the time he served on the Ho-Chunk governing body, he worked with other Legislators to “form a more perfect government, secure our rights, advance the general welfare, safeguard our interests, sustain our culture, promote our traditions and perpetuate our existence, and secure the natural and self-evident right to govern ourselves…” (Preamble, Constitution of the Ho-Chunk Nation).
He joined Eternity on August 18, 2014.
He was a true leader, a true Point Man for the Ho-Chunk Nation.
Forever faithful.”
The expected completion date for the project is 2017.