Members of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe drum and sing a native song of blessing for the new bridge and interchange.
The Cowlitz Tribe wasn’t able to open the new ilani Casino until the new I-5 interchange and overpass were completed. Now that the freeway project is done, it’s only a matter of time until the $510 million casino resort becomes open to the public.
Last week, the tribe unveiled the new interchange at Exit 16 just west of La Center. It opened last Tuesday night, but before the opening the Cowlitz Tribe celebrated with a “blessing” in front of local government leaders and media personnel.
The blessing, which took place in the middle of the new bridge, consisted of tribal singing and some words at a podium from Bill Iyall, chairman of the Cowlitz Tribe, and a couple of other leaders.
In his speech to the small crowd, Iyall spoke of the “long road” that his tribe has had to endure to get to this point. He referred to the tribe’s difficulties of finally getting federal recognition in 2000, and then more recently overcoming the court cases against the legality of building the casino.
“It’s been obviously a long road for the Cowlitz,” he said.
More specifically on the overpass and interchange project, Iyall said he’s never seen such efficiency from work crews. As a civil engineer, he said the quality and timing has been remarkable.
Construction was done by workers from Swinerton Builders, Goodfellow Brothers and Selby Bridge. In all, the new interchange cost $32 million. The hefty investment is expected to take on 8,000 to 12,000 people going to and from ilani daily.
At the blessing ceremony on Tuesday afternoon, Tanna Engdahl, the Cowlitz Tribe’s spiritual leader, led several other members in multiple songs once Iyall was finished. “ilani,” after all, means “sing” in Cowlitz. The tribe’s songs were performed in Cowlitz language, and members also used tribal drums and sticks as instruments to accompany their voices. The tribal members dressed in traditional garments to celebrate.
The casino the interchange was built to support will be “opening soon,” at some point this spring, with some rumors suggesting at the end of this month.
