Casino Rama, in Rama, north of Toronto, Canada, near Orillia on Lake Couchiching, was Ontario's second casino and opened to the public on July 31, 1996.

When the Chippewas of Mnjikaning First Nation commissioned Moriyama & Teshima Architects to design the casino on the Rama Reserve, they presented us with an impressive list of requirements. The 195,000-square foot building was to have more than 65,000 square feet of gaming area, contain 2,500 pieces of gaming equipment, be in operation 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, have tons of coins for slot machines, provide food and beverages for 2,000 employees as well as 5 million visitors annually (averaging over 13,000 daily), accommodate 1,700 cars on and off site, and receive 500 buses and shuttles daily. And design and construction had to be completed within 250 days!

Our challenge was incorporating the special culture of the Ojibway people into the building's design. Although the intention of the casino was to provide financial benefits to the 131 Ontario First Nations, we saw the design and building process as an opportunity to raise self-esteem and feelings of pride within the native community.

Although there were no recognized artists in the community, Raymond Moriyama, partner-in-charge of the project, suggested to the Chief and Council that a coalition of native artists, now known as the Mnjikaning Art Studio, be formed to create an art wall. The building then became an empty canvas - a simple, rectangular building, quick and easy to assemble and clad with metal panels to which the artwork could be applied.

The artists have created an outstanding mural, 1,500 feet x 40 feet, to symbolize the friendship between the Chippewa communities and their guests at the casino. The primary element in the mural is a beadwork wampum belt with images of the seven clans of the Chippewa nation - bird, fish, bear, marten, crane, loon, and deer - all linked in a chain that encircles the building. Other pictorial elements illustrate the history, life, and heritage of the nation in Rama.

The interior of the building includes a waterfall fountain, three restaurants, a gift shop and an entertainment lounge, all open 24 hours per day, every day of the year.