June 2012 | Volume 3, Issue 11
PAGE 2 Retired Senator Dorgan provides new opportunities for Native Youth
PAGE 4 GPIGA host their annual tradeshow in Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s Mystic Lake Hotel and Casino
PAGE 5 Boys and Girls Club of America Alumni Selected for 2012 Hall of Fame
United States Senator Byron Dorgan accepts his award at the NIGA Awards Luncheon during the NIGA Tradeshow and Convention 2012.
SENATOR BYRON DORGAN RECEIVES THE CHAIRMAN’S LEADERSHIP AWARD FROM NIGA AWARD COMMEMORATES DORGAN’S NEW BEGINNING IN BUILDING A NATIVE YOUTH CENTER
When United States Senator Byron Dorgan (DND) announced that he was retiring at the end of his senate term in 2010, many people in Indian Country were fearful of losing one of their best champions and advocates. That was simply not the case. On April 2, 2012, Senator Byron Dorgan and the organization he founded after his “retirement” The Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute - were honored with the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) Chairman’s Leadership Award at NIGA’s Annual Tradeshow and Convention
in San Diego, California. Not only was Senator Dorgan recognized for his previous work on behalf of Indian Country, but also for his continued dedication to Indian youth post-retirement, particularly the establishment of the Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute. “I’m currently working with parents and tribes and others who have reached out to try to find a way to improve lives and save lives. The rate of suicide among Indian teens is nearly four times the national average. There are so many things that we can do that
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United States Senator Byron Dorgan hosted a Washington, DC event with the Center for Native Youth in March of 2012.
can be helpful to them and provide opportunity for them,” said Senator Dorgan. Upon leaving the U.S. Senate in 2010, Senator Dorgan donated one million dollars from his unused surplus campaign funds to start the Center for Native American Youth, which is housed at a think-tank called the Aspen Institute. Based out of Washington D.C., the Center for Native American Youth officially opened its doors in March 2011 and is dedicated to improving the health, safety, and overall well-being of Native American youth through communication, policy development, and advocacy. “Our primary issues are working with tribal governments, and parents, and particularly Indian youth across the country on things like teen suicide prevention, education opportunity, and related issues,” said Senator Dorgan. “The reason that I wanted to do this is because I think that Indian children are the descendants of the first Americans and yet they have been largely left behind in our country in many, many ways in areas like education and healthcare and so many different areas.” The Center recently celebrated its one year anniversary, yet it has already accomplished many milestones. The Center has held roundtables with Indian youth from over 100 tribes in 9 states as well as with federal agencies that are involved in Native American programs to promote collaboration and coordination among the agencies. It has also produced a public service announcement with Native American center fielder for the Boston Red Sox, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Lieutenant Governor of the Chickasaw Nation and President of the National Congress of American Indians, Jefferson Keel. In addition, the Center was also recently awarded a $600,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to be used for the next three years to continue and expand the organization’s outreach efforts, improve access to opportunity for Indian and Alaska Native
youth, and promote dialogue about Indian youth issues. “I was very proud of the NIGA award presented to our organization by Chairman Ernie Stevens at their conference in San Diego. We are a relatively new program and I was very proud that they would recognize the work that we have done. I thank NIGA and Ernie Stevens for their support. It was a very proud day,” said Senator Dorgan. “We’re working very hard to affect the lives of Native American youth in a positive way.” Those who know Senator Dorgan are not the least bit surprised by his continued advocacy on behalf of Indian Country. In fact, Senator Dorgan’s congressional record is extremely telling of his passion for other Indian issues such as housing, healthcare, and education. As Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Senator Dorgan dedicated a lot of his time focusing on Native American issues like diabetes, renal dialysis, and tribal education and colleges. However, for Senator Dorgan, special attention must be paid to the Indian youth because they are the future. “It’s very inspiring to go around and meet these Native American kids who, in many cases, have these aspirations that really inspire me. In many cases, they live in really difficult situations and think that they don’t have very much opportunity. What we’re trying to do is inspire them to believe that they have every opportunity to be whatever their God-given talents allow them to be,” said Senator Dorgan. In addition to his commitments within Indian Country, Senator Dorgan teaches at Georgetown University, he serves as the Board of Directors for several companies and organizations in Silicon Valley, just published a new book (his third) with a fourth book expected in the fall, and is a Senior Policy Advisor at a law firm.
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GPIGA HOST CONFERENCE AND TRADESHOW AT MYSTIC LAKE ON MONDAY, THE GREAT PLAINS, MIDWEST, AND ROCKY MOUNTAIN INDIAN GAMING GROUP OPENED THEIR THREE DAY EVENT WITH AN AWARDS BANQUET The Great Plains Indian Gaming Association (GPIGA) is currently hosting their 20th Annual Conference and Tradeshow at the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s Mystic Lake Hotel and Casino this May 21st-23rd. GPIGA is a association composed of 24 federally recognized Tribal Nations in the Great Plains Region. Headed by the energetic Kurt Luger of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, the three day event kicked off with an Awards Banquet with an opening prayer by Gerald St Goodard and an honor song by Midnight Express. GPIGA awarded Loris Welch who is the General Manager at Dakota Connection as their 2012 Employee of the Year, while the Oglala Sioux Tribal Gaming Commission was awarded Gaming Commissioners of the Year. In the beautiful bingo hall of the casino, Mark Van Norman, NIGA Chairman Ernie Stevens Jr., Jerry Danforth of Rocket Gaming, and the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association were also recognized for their long life careers in moving Indian communities forward. Bo Vocu was also honored at the Awards Banquet. Bo Vocu is an Oglala Lakota from Kyle, SD. He is a multiple INFR qualifier in the bull riding and saddle bronc as well as a member of the PRCA and PBR. He has a degree in Business Administration and Computer Information Systems. Along with being a rancher and rodeo cowboy, he is the Vice President of ChiroCode Institute; a healthcare resource company in Phoenix, AZ. He shared that the INFR has provided much for the youth through rodeo by the means of scholarships and rodeo schools. This kickoff event was brought together by a good meal and great people who have been constant warriors for their communities.
Energetic GPIGA Executive Director Kurt Luger greets the attendees at their Welcome Reception.
Professional Bullrider Bo Vocu shared his remarks. Chairman Stevens gifted him the Tommy Singer bolo tie he was wearing and pledges his support to Bo and the INFR for their efforts to the youth.
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(L to R) Anthony Lee Ervin, Chairman Stevens, Maj. Gen. Darren W. McDew, Cuba Gooding, Jr. Ne-Yo, Misty Copeland, CC Sabathia, Powers Booth, Amber Sabatha, and CC Sabatha’s wife. Ruben Studdard (center right) provided entertainment.
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF AMERICA ALUMNI SELECTED FOR 2012 HALL OF FAME ERNIE STEVENS JR., MISTY COPELAND, AND CUBA GOODING JR. ARE JUST A FEW NATIONAL LEADERS TO BE HONORED AT THIS YEAR’S BGCA ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER. San Diego, CA (May 2, 2012) – The Boys and Girls Club of America (BGCA) has been responsible for molding some of the greatest minds in America into the leaders of today. “Great Futures Start Here” is the nonprofit organization’s motto, as they continue to reach out for the best interests of American youth across the country. On May 2, NIGA’s Chairman Ernie Stevens Jr. will be inducted into the BGCA Alumni Hall of Fame during the organization’s national convention in San Diego. The hall of fame features pro athletes, accomplished business leaders, Olympians and even award-winning actors. The diverse selection of actors, musicians, military veterans and leaders illustrate the tremendous job BGCA has done serving over 4.1 million youth over the past century. Today, there are over 4,000 clubs across the country, providing youth with opportunities in education, fitness, social recreation, teen issues, and bullying prevention. These youth development programs have given teens and youth supervision for activities afterschool and on weekends. The Oneida Boys Club taught Ernest Stevens Jr. how to be a kid and got him back into school. His much-needed role models gave him the chance to compete in sports and helped him develop self-discipline. Today, Chairman Stevens is highly regarded for his strong stance on sovereignty and Indian self-determination. Since partnering with American Indian tribes, the BGCA have provided outreach to over 90,000 American Indian youths. They now have 196 clubs in Indian country and 9 more on the way. For more information on the BGCA in Indian country, please visit, www.naclubs.org
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Full list of Inductees: • Cuba Gooding Jr., Academy Awardwinning actor • Ne-Yo, Grammywinning singer/ songwriter • CC Sabathia, New York Yankees star pitcher, 5 time MLB All-Star, 2007 Cy Young • David LindsayAbaire, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright (“Rabbit Hole”) • Powers Boothe, Emmy-winning actor (Fox series “24”) • Misty Copeland, soloist, American Ballet Company • Anthony Lee Ervin, winner of seven NCAA swimming titles and a 2012 Olympic contender • Ernest Stevens Jr., Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association, leader/advocate • Major General Darren W. McDew, Commander at Andrews Air Force Base
UPCOMING EVENTS JUNE 17-19 NCAI Mid Year Lincoln, NE JULY 16-18 Northwest Indian Gaming Conference Little Creek Casino Resort Shelton, WA AUGUST 13-15 Oklahoma Indian Gaming Cox Center Oklahoma City, OK SEPTEMBER 18-19 NIGA Mid Year Seminole Hardrock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, FL OCTOBER 1-4 Global Gaming (G2E) The Sands Expo & Convention Center Las Vegas, NV 8-11 USET Annual Meeting Uncasville, CT 21 – 25 NCAI Convention & Marketplace Sacramento, CA NOVEMBER 14-15 RES Oklahoma – INPRO Hardrock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, OK
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