IGU 2019 Tradeshow Edition FINAL

IGU 2019 Tradeshow Edition FINAL

Special

Indian Gaming 2019 Tradeshow Edition

Celebrating the Success of a $34 Billion Dollar Industry

IN THIS ISSUE

4

Member Tribes Convene to Discuss Legislative Updates and Reports

Member Tribes Convene Host Elections Chairman Stevens and Secretary Jordan Overwhelming Re-affirmed

6

Leadership Honored Former NCAI President Presented the Tim Wapato Soverign Award

12

Indian Gaming Warrior Women Honored Recognizing the Strength of the Native American Women in Leadership

14

Some 7,400 Tribal leaders, gaming professionals, industry experts and business leaders from around the country, gathering at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California to participate in the 2019 Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention. This year’s Indian Gaming 2019 event broke previous attendance records.

2 | INDIAN GAMING UPDATE - MID YEAR EDITION 2019

NIGA EXECUTIVE BOARD MEET TO KICK OFF INDIAN GAMING 2019

The National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) Board of Directors came together on the eve of the kick off of the 34th Annual Indian Gaming 2019 Tradeshow and Convention to be held at the San Diego Convention Center, in San Diego, California. The bi-annual NIGA Board of Directors convened at the Marriott Marquise to host discussions on topics and resolutions, preparing for the NIGA Member tribe’s meetings to be held along with the most significant gathering of tribal gaming leadership, executives, and industry representatives. In his welcoming message to the board, Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr., said, “Once again we bring tribal leadership and our Indian gaming industry experts and professionals together to celebrate the tremendous success of our Indian gaming industry.” To kick off the meeting, National Indian Gaming Association Associate member, Ultraviolet Devices were acknowledged as one of the newest sponsors of the Indian Gaming tradeshow event. A presentation followed by Haskell Indian Nations Foundation representatives, Cleta LaBrie, Director of Development and Haskell Student Senate President Lindsey Beth Robinson on their building fundraising campaign. They stressed the importance of Indian Country assisting them with garnering more federal funding and also extended a plea for assistance from those Tribes who have additional resources to share. The agenda included a vast number of issues and topics including year-end reports by NIGA Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr., the Executive Director of NIGA, Jason Giles and the Treasurer of NIGA, Andy Ebona. The Chairman’s report covered organizational updates including a 2018 year-end report, an overview of the 2019 Tradeshow

Schedule of Events and information on the continued work NIGA is doing with the American Gaming Association (AGA) new President Bill Miller. The board was also provided updates by the Tribal Alliance, Tribal Gaming Protection Network (TPGN) & the National Indian Casino Safety Association (NICSA.) Debbie Thundercloud, former NIGA Chief of Staff, provided a report on sports betting and the overall impacts, and legislative issues, as well as State and Tribal interest in sports betting. NIGA Executive Director, Jason Giles reported on regulatory efforts, operations, and legislative updates. NIGA Treasurer Andy Ebona provided an update on the overall financial condition of the organization and its operational budget. As part of the Treasurer’s report board members heard from Wipfli LLP/Joseph Eve & Associates, who presented the 2018 Audit report. The Board addressed new business presented by various Member Tribes. The Board approved and adopted the following resolutions which will help guide NIGA’s policy objectives for this legislative session: • Support for Federal Legislation to address Supreme Court’s Misguided Carcieri decision and Protect Existing Tribal Trust Lands; • Calling on Congress to Establish the Deputy Secretary for Indian Nations and the National Council on Native Nations to Honor Indian Self-Government, Self-Determination and Treaty Rights on a Nation-to-Nation Basis. • To Affirm and Protect Tribal Sovereign Immunity, Encourage the Establishment of Tribal Government Risk Management Pools and Dispute and Claims Resolution Process

3 | INDIAN GAMING UPDATE - SPECIAL 2019 TRADESHOW EDITION

INDIAN GAMING 2019 AT THE SAN DIEGO CONVENTION CENTER

NIGA Member Tribes Come together to discuss critical Legislative Issues

Cody Martinez, Chairman of the Syucan Band of Kumeyaay Indians welcomes tribes to San Diego for Indian Gaming 2019

The member tribes of the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) came together last Tuesday to conduct their annual membership meeting at the San Diego Convention Center to discuss many issues related to not only the Indian gaming industry but critical legislative issues surrounding Indian country. President Jefferson Keel of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) joined Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr., and Rory Wheeler, NCAI Youth Commission Co-President to assist in welcoming the tribal leadership. Cody Martinez, Chairman of the Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Indians, welcomed the tribes to San Diego. “We welcome you all here to not only celebrate the National Indian Gaming Association but ultimately we are here to celebrate tribal sovereignty at work. It is outstanding to see so many of our industry gather here.” He added, “Over the last thirty-five years, Indian gaming has enabled Sycuan and many other tribal governments to thrive, but we recognize that Indian gaming is not an end to itself, but a means to a better future for our tribal government and communities.” David Bean, Vice Chairman of NIGA, greeted the tribal leadership “I raise my hands to each one of you for being here today. It is an honor to serve alongside each of you, standing for the people and the tribal communities we serve, protecting tribal sovereignty. I know many of you and those before you have paved a better way for our future generations.” Bean added, “We work hard as tribal leaders always engaging with members of Congress, and the administration in defense of tribal sovereignty and promoting economic development through Indian gaming.”

NIGA Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr., delivered the annual State of Indian Gaming address, recognizing the tribal leadership and tribal government gaming success by saying, “You know why we have a $34 billion industry? You know why we provide jobs and how the offshoot of this industry generates more than 700,000 jobs? You come from the heart of those communities.” Stevens continued, “Where we come from is where our wealth is, it is the reason we create these opportunities – more housing, more development, more programs, and services. It is so our kids can invest in their future. That is what we are here for, and that is why we do what we do. That is what Tribal government gaming is and how we define wealth.” “Indian gaming has always been about job creation; about seamless, comprehensive regulation; and about giving back to our brother and sister tribal governments and our neighbors.” Stevens added, “Indian gaming is about our future: Indian Gaming is educating our Native youth and providing a path forward for the next seven generations. It is because we have great leadership with our boots on the ground, working hard and educating the world about our gaming industry.” Stevens spoke about the recent 30-year celebration of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA.) He said “We celebrate what Indian country did for an act that diminished our rights as sovereign governments. We celebrate the things that we did to make the best of something that was intended to dilute our supreme court victory. We have made the best of the congressional action we call IGRA; we will continue to build a strong future. Today, here we stand, advocating for our industry - continuing to take charge of moving Indian Country forward.”

4 | INDIAN GAMING UPDATE - SPECIAL 2019 TRADESHOW EDITION

Paulette Jordan, NIGA Secretary, conducted the official membership roll call which declared a quorum. NIGA Treasurer Andy Ebona presented his treasurer’s report, which included the annual audit update submitted by Joseph Eve, of WIPFLI LLC. NIGA Vice Chairman David Bean then officially opened up nominations for the positions of Chairman and Secretary, where both current Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr. and Secretary Paulette Jordon received sole nominations. The first-panel discussion for the day was the “Safeguarding the Seventh Generation: Risk Management in Indian Country,” brought by Mark Van Norman of Van Norman Consulting, and Dereck Valdo, Chief Executive Officer of AMERIND Risk, a native-owned insurance company based in Indian Country at the Santa Ana Pueblo in New Mexico. Indian nations, as sovereigns, possess sovereign immunity from the suit just as do Federal and State Governments. Tribal sovereign immunity is a recognized doctrine of Federal law based on the status of Indian tribes as sovereigns pre-dating the United States. While the Supreme Court has recognized tribal sovereignty immunity, the lower federal courts, and State Supreme Court have been inconsistent. This challenge may also represent an opportunity that can be addressed through the use of risk management, risk pools, tribal tort reform and Federal legislation affirming the authority of Indian tribes to maintain our sovereign immunity and establish our laws on tort reform. Tribal leaders heard about the importance of having a tier level system of risk management in place through insurance to protect Tribal Sovereignty and Tribal Sovereign Immunity. By putting coverage in place, Tribes are exercising their sovereignty and safeguard their assets from civil and tort claims and avoid a dangerous precedent that is being set in the courts to erode Tribal Sovereignty. In the afternoon membership meeting, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Tribal Council and members of

their business council presented a check, contributing to NIGA to support the organization’s mission of representation in Washington, DC. Keith Anderson, Shakopee Vice Chairman, presented the check to the NIGA Board of Directors and said, “It is our humble honor to present NIGA with this contribution today. We value the work they do for all of Indian Country in Washington, D.C.” Anderson added, “We have done this for many years.” Chairman Steven said, “The impact of the Shakopee contribution and support going back to the late Stanley Crooks, all the way to the current leadership continues to play a vital role in D.C.” The Legislative Update panel followed. The session was moderated by Jason Giles, Executive Director of the National Indian Gaming Association, and included panelists Aurene Martin, President of Spirit Rock Consulting, Steve Bodmer, General Counsel of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians and John Harte, Principal at the Mapetsi Policy Group. Liz Homer of Homer Law moderated the session entitled “Indian Country Regulatory Update,” where tribal leaders were provided updates from Jonadev Chaudhuri, Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) and Jamie Hummingbird, Director of the Cherokee Gaming Commission and Chairman of the National Tribal Gaming Commissioners/Regulators (NTGCR.) The Tribal Economic Development discussion rounded out the day of discussion, which included some of the most successful Tribal business people in Indian Country. Chris James, President and CEO, of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) moderated the discussion with experts Joanne Whiterabbit of the Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce, Joe Nayquonabe, Commissioner of Corporate Affairs for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indians and Jamie Fullmer, Chairman and CEO of Blue Stone Strategy.

5 |INDIAN GAMING UPDATE - SPECIAL 2019 TRADESHOW EDITION

MEMBER TRIBES CLOSE ANNUAL MEETING WITH ANNUAL ELECTIONS FOR CHAIRMAN AND SECRETARY

The National Indian Gaming Association’s (NIGA), two-day Tribal Leaders meeting, continued on Wednesday afternoon, April 3rd, with the annual elections of the Chairman and Secretary positions

Gaming Association board. In introducing Jordan, Chairman Stevens acknowledged her accomplishments, and he said, “In her role in the campaign trail for Governor and as a State Legislator, Paulette has been a strong advocate, working hard to educate all about our tribal government rights and tribal sovereignty.” After being sworn in, Jordan said, “It is a privilege to serve Indian country in this regard, to be a voice for many of our people because we always fight on the frontlines, and it is important to continue to do so.” After the assembled audience concluded the election, they heard from an esteemed panel on the “Native Vote and Candidate Development.” Theresa Sheldon, the Native American Outreach for EMILY’S List, and Kevin Killer, former South Dakota State Senator and Co-founder for Native American Youth Leadership Alliance, moderated the discussion. Their presentations centered around updates on the 2018 elections and the importance of continuing the push to get out the vote in all of Indian country. Through her work at EMILY’S List, Theresa is striving to keep the momentum from last year’s elections to find Native American candidates for the 2020 election cycle. The final panel of the Membership Meeting was the “Supreme Court and The Federal Court Rulings and Their Impacts on Indian Country,” moderated by Jason Giles, Executive Director of the National Indian Gaming Association. Executive Director Giles was joined on the panel by Steve Gunn, Law Professor Washington University St. Louis, and Mark Van Norman, from Van Norman Consulting. There have been numerous court cases in the past two years, percolating up from State and District Court levels, that threaten the sustained viability of the Tribal Sovereignty Doctrine. Professor Gunn, a frequent litigator and appeals advocate for Tribes in the Midwest, urged that Tribal Governments must start looking at alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to avoid these lengthy and costly court battles. Mr. Van Norman recommended that Tribes start to explore insurance and reinsurance programs to forestall visitors to the reservations from dragging Tribes or their employees into court. This discussion is of utmost importance to Tribal Leaders and their ability to conduct economic pursuits. Chairman Stevens committed to make this an on-going focus for the remainder of the year into NIGA’s Mid-Year Event on September 23-25, at Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut. The 2019 NIGA Membership Meeting concluded with the official retiring of the colors by the Southern California American Indian Veterans Association.

at the National Indian Gaming Association.

Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr. and Secretary Paulette Jordan sought re-election to their positions unopposed and were successful in garnering the unanimous support from tribal leadership to continue serving in their current positions. This is the ninth term for Chairman Stevens and the third term for Secretary Jordan. With his family by his side, including his wife of 40 years Cheryl, Chairman Stevens was sworn in as Chairman. He thanked the membership saying, “I am humbled by your continued belief in me, and I pledge to you once again. I will continue to maintain my belief that my work is my campaign and it is something I take very seriously. My bosses are all around this table, and I take my direction from you all. We have a big agenda, and we must continue to work together to continue to accomplish that work on behalf of the people we serve and to protect Indian country for the next seven generations. I am re-affirming my commitment to you all. “ Stevens also acknowledged his mother Marjorie Stevens who made her first-ever visit to the annual tradeshow. “My leadership style is influenced by the women who have molded me in my life. My mother, who always impressed upon me the importance of statesmanship, had a vital role in impressing upon me the importance of women in community and leadership. I fully understand that I am a Warrior, strongly influenced by Women in leadership.” A significant highlight of this year’s Indian Gaming tradeshow was the Women Warrior’s panel session leading up to the ribbon- cutting event, held earlier in the day. The panel recognized the strong success of Indian countrywomen, who have helped strengthen their communities through their leadership. Coming fresh off a run for Idaho State Governor and after two terms in the Idaho State House of Representatives, tribes once again elected Paulette Jordon to serve as Secretary of the National Indian

6 | INDIAN GAMING UPDATE - SPECIAL 2019 TRADESHOW EDITION

7 | INDIAN GAMING UPDATE - SPECIAL 2019 TRADESHOW EDITION

INDIAN GAMING 2019 MEMBERSHIP MEETING PANEL Exploring Economic Development in the 21st Century

NCAIED Chris James to lead NIGA ED Sub-Committe

The Tribal Economic Development into the 21st Century panel present to tribal leadership. Panelist include Joe Nayquonabe, Commissioner of Corporate Affairs at Mille Lacs Band, Jamie Fullmer, Chairman & CEO, Blue Stone Strategy, Joanne Whiterabbit, ED of the Minnesota Indian Chamber of Commerce and David Greendeer, ED of Business for the Ho Chunk Nation of Wisconsin.

During the annual NIGA Tradeshow and Convention Membership Meeting a panel of leading experts discussed Tribal Economic Development into the 21st Century. Chris James, President & CEO of the National Center for American Indian Economic Development Moderated the panel and Joe Nayquonabe, Commissioner of Corporate Affairs for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe; Jamie Fullmer, Chairman & CEO for Blue Stone Strategy Group; Joanne Whiterabbit, Executive Director for the Minnesota Indian Chamber of Commerce and David Greendeer, Executive Director of Business for the Ho Chunk Nation in Wisconsin offered their expertise on the panel. Chris kicked off the panel by asking each member to share one of their biggest challenges with regard to Economic Development in Indian Country. The panelists shared that convincing their communities that they had to go “beyond gaming” as that market is maturing was a challenge, the lack of hard infrastructure and funding for it, a limited workforce, having businesses operate independent of government, the lack of priorities and >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16

Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker