MARKSVILLE, La. (AP) – Slot machines might not be the only thing on the minds of people visiting Marksville.

On Wednesday, The Town Talk reports the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open its new Cultural and Educational Resources Center in Marksville.

Earl Barbry Jr., the center's director, said education was a major focus in creating the center. “(Northwestern State University) will be offering graduate and undergraduate classes at the new facility, (beginning in 2012),” Barbry said. “This will be a major plus for Avoyelles Parish because a lot of people have to drive to (Louisiana State University-Alexandria) or NSU in Natchitoches for classes.

“We are known for our casino here, but we also want people to also think about education when they come to Marksville.”

Barbry said the vision to create the museum started seven years ago. “This started as a rebuilding of our previous museum and just grew from there,” he said. “This was a $13 million project and came from two HUD block grants and tribal funds. Construction started in August of 2007. We broke ground for the center in February.”

The building was constructed by Ratcliff Construction of Alexandria.

Clarence W. Hawkins, United States Department of Agriculture state director, said the USDA made “over $7 million (available) in financing, in loans and rates, to fund the project.”

“This is part of our initiative to develop culture and education in rural America,” Hawkins said. “This is helping Marksville and the parish broaden their attractiveness.”

The 40,000-square-foot museum will house both Native American and European artifacts from the Colonial era. It also will have Tunica Treasures artifacts on display and, in the future, be host to traveling exhibits.

Pete Gregory, a NSU anthropology professor, said the Tunica tribe always has had its sights on providing educational opportunities.

“I came here in 1960 to help the tribe with an archaeological find,” he said. “(Tunica-Biloxi) Chief Eli Barbry in the 1930s wanted his people to be able to go to school. The (Tunica-Biloxi) people weren't able to go to school. NSU will have a distance-learning center here and eventually a place to place classes.”

Darlene Williams, NSU vice president of technology, research and economic development, said classes will be held both through video conferences and online.

“We will be looking at programs like criminal justice, general business and adult education,” she said. “We have 29 programs online, available anywhere in the world. We will also be looking to have staff on site.”

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Information from: Alexandria Daily Town Talk, http://www.thetowntalk.com