The Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska will soon be offering Bingo at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall.
Tribe announced plans to hold bingo on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Tribe announced plans to hold bingo on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday starting on May 9. Doors begin around five p.m. and the games will begin at 7 and continue until 10 p.m. The Tribe will also offer pulltabs.
Proceeds from the sale will be used to fund the Tribe’s programs across the state which include seniors’ services and scholarships.
Its Community Council already runs bingo in Twin Lakes, but those funds can only be used to pay for services for tribal members living in Juneau. Should there is a chance that the Central Council runs bingo, profits can be used to be used to benefit tribal members regardless of where they reside.
“Bingo is but another way that we are seeking economic sovereignty and expanding the reach of our Tribe to better serve the citizens across Southeast Alaska,” President Richard Chalyee Eesh Peterson said in an official statement.
Janice Hotch, the Tribe’s director of economic and business development she said that more bingo signifies a return to normal for the elderly.
span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”For them it’s a good time gathering place for friends to get together,” she said in an interview. “During the outbreak, all of that was taken from them. I believe we’re giving them the opportunity to gather.”
Before the pandemic Hotch stated that prior to the pandemic, Juneau residents could play bingo throughout the week, switching between Tribe’s game nights and other nights, such as the ones hosted by Filipino Community, Inc.
FilCom offers bingo on Sundays and Thursdays. Bingo manager Cyla Garcia has expressed concern about competing against the Thursday evening players.
span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”Our numbers are likely to be significantly affected,” Garcia said. “Our hall is already quite small. There isn’t a huge crowd at times. It’s very worrying. .”
Hotch stated that she would like to see bingo players will continue to support the various organizations that host games.
“We would like to see people will come to our bingo and all other bingos, since there’s a need, and it’s all for charitable playing,” she said.
The Tribe is hiring six new members to manage the games at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall.
