Indian Gaming Update - March 2013

Indian Gaming Update February/March | Volume 4, Issue 2

PAGE 2 TRIBAL NATIONS PRESENCE FELT DURING 57TH PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION

PAGE 3 NIGA CHAIRMAN REFLECTS ON THE 2013 STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS

PAGE 8 NCAI STATE OF INDIAN NATIONS ADDRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Indian Gaming Update

TRIBAL NATIONS PRESENCE FELT DURING 57TH PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION TRIBAL LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS HOST MANY EVENTS TO HONOR THE SECOND TERM OF BARACK OBAMA AND JOE BIDEN Washington, DC (January 22, 2013) – Over the course of the Inaugural weekend Tribal representatives and organizations hosted meetings and receptions in honor of the second inauguration of President Barack Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden.

On Saturday January 19th, the National Indian Gaming Association hosted a one-day meeting on the topics of tribal sovereignty and the trust responsibility, taxation, and economic development at the Crystal City Marriott. Over 70 tribal leaders and officials were present to hear from Senator Heidi Heitkamp, Congressman Dan Kildee and Congressman Markwayne Mullin, a member of the Cherokee Nation, the Department of the Interior’s Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Kevin Washburn, National Indian Gaming Commission Chairwoman Tracie Stevens, and other representatives of governmental organizations and advocacy groups.

Chairman Stevens summed up this special meeting by stating, “While there are many economic challenges ahead, our friends in the Senate and House will keep their attention on protecting federally funded tribal programs and respecting the federal trust relationship.”

NIGA thanks its partners; the California Nations Indian Gaming Association, the Great Plains Indian Gaming Association, the Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Association, the Lummi Nation, the New Mexico Indian Gaming Association, the Quinault Indian Nation, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians and the Sycuan

Band of the Kumeyaay Nation for hosting this meeting.

Later that evening, the American Indian Society of Washington, D.C. hosted their Inaugural Pow Wow at the Crystal City Gateway Marriott. The Pow Wow honored Native Veterans and many speakers noted their support for the continuing collaboration between President Obama and tribal nations as he begins a second term.

On Sunday, the Navajo Nation Washington Office hosted a reception at their office near Union Station.

President of the Navajo Nation Ben Shelly was in attendance along with Miss Navajo Nation Leandra Thomas. The event brought together representatives of the Navajo Nation government, members of the Navajo Nation Congressional Delegation, and industry and tribal leaders. The event was catered by Waterbird, a Navajo cuisine catering company from Farmington, New Mexico.

The American Indian Society of Washington, D.C. hosted their Inaugural Ball in Virginia with tribal arts and crafts vendors and a performance from NIGA Board Member Andy Ebona’s Yaaw Tei Yi Tlingit dance group. Gay Kingman Wapato, Executive Director of the Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Association, was honored at the event with the Society’s 2013 Lifetime Legacy award, along with Olympic Gold Medalist Billy Mills, Billy Frank, Jr., Chairman of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, and an environmental activist.

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Longtime Indian Country activist Elouise Cobell was also honored with a posthumous Lifetime Legacy award.

The evening continued at the Hard Rock Café in downtown Washington D.C. At an event hosted by the National Center for American Indian Economic Development along with the Native American Contractors Association and the Native American Tribal Energy Association, tribal leaders came together for this important networking celebration. In attendance were Muscogee Creek Nation Principal Chief George Tiger, the Center’s Chairwoman Margo Gray-Proctor, the Center’s CEO Gary “Litefoot” Davis, NIGA Chairman and NCAIED Board Member Ernie Stevens Jr. and Native American Middleweight boxer George “Comanche Boy” Tahdooahnippah among many other notable guests.

On Inauguration Day, many Tribal leaders and representatives viewed the President’s swearing-in from the Executive Director’s suite overlooking the Capitol building. National Congress of American Indians President Jefferson Keel sat alongside other invited dignitaries and represented Indian Country, serving as a pertinent reminder of the Native Americans role in the United States.

As Washington D.C. hosted numerous inaugural events and balls, the National Museum of the American Indian positioned itself in the center of it all. The Native Nations Inaugural Ball brought entertainment like the comedy group “the 1491’s,” singers Martha Redbone and Crystal Shawanda, music by DJ Kiss Zuni, live folk music provided by the Grascals, and Actor Chaske Spencer served as the Master of Ceremonies. The museum provided their awardwinning Native cuisine to attendees. Funds raised from ticket sales will be used to support NMAI’s educational programs.

The inauguration events concluded Tuesday with a special Tribal Nations Strategy Meeting organized by NCAI. Key White House Administration officials and congressional staffers engaged in dialogue with Tribal Leaders about the need for a continued partnership with the Administration and Congress. Congressional visitors reassured tribal leadership their intention to advance Indian Country.

“Tribal Leaders ended the Inauguration weekend knowing that the newly elected representatives will be there to strongly advocate on behalf of Indian Country, and we look forward to building the momentum into President Obama’s next term,” Chairman Ernie Stevens Jr. said.

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Indian Gaming Update

From L to R: Chairman Stevens, Chairman Tucker, Gay Kingman-Wapato, Chairman Emeritus Hill.

NIGA HONORS INDIAN GAMING VISIONARIES GAY KINGMAN-WAPATO, DANIEL TUCKER AND RICK HILL CHAIRMAN STEVENS PRESENTS STANLEY CROOKS-DESIGNED PINS AS A BADGE OF HONOR FOR THEIR WORK AND VISION Washington, DC (January 20, 2013) – During the National Indian Gaming Association’s Native Nations Policy Summit, Chairman Ernie Stevens Jr. presented handmade silver NIGA sovereignty staff pins to Gay Kingman-Wapato, Daniel Tucker, Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation Chairman and Rick Hill NIGA Chairman Emeritus (Tribal Financial Advisors Chairman) as an acknowledgement for their historic and current role in advancing Indian gaming and tribal sovereignty.

“Over twenty years ago, these warriors took on the challenge to build a national presence to Indian gaming. Gay, Danny and Rick provided a standard of what our industry means and what it stands for, and that is Sovereignty and Indian Self-Determination,” Chairman Stevens said. “These badges of honor are reminders of our mission and what still needs to be accomplished for our tribes through this country.”

The pins were designed by the former Chairman of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, the late Stanley Crooks, and presented at NIGA’s oneday meeting on sovereignty, tribal economies, and taxation in Crystal City, Virginia on the weekend of the Presidential Inauguration.

After Tim Wapato left his role in government

service in 1993, tribal nations asked Tim and his wife, Gay Kingman and Rick Hill to develop and establish a National Indian Gaming Association presence in Washington, D.C. In 1995, NIGA was the first Indian organization to purchase and own property on Capitol Hill. In addition to being recognized by NIGA at the Native Nations Policy Meetings, Ms. Kingman-Wapato was also honored by the American Indian Society of Washington, D.C. during their Inaugural Ball with a 2013 Lifetime Legacy Award for her selfless work as an advocate for Indian Country for these past 40 Years.

NIGA Chairman Emeritus Rick Hill has served most of his adult life in Tribal government and national leadership that has culminated in two separate terms as Chairman from 1990 to 1993 and again from 2008 to 2011. In his first term, Oneida was able to triple tribal resources and helped his tribe sign their first gaming compact with the State of Wisconsin.

Daniel Tucker, Chairman of Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation and the California Nations Indian Gaming Association and has been a long time serving member of the National Indian Gaming Association since 1992. Like Chairman Hill, Tucker has served a good portion of his career in tribal leadership.

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Joining the Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes (MAST) Leadership in a White House meeting with Jodie Gillette, Senior Policy Advisor for Native American Affairs and Charles Galbraith Associate Director for Intergovernmental Affairs.

MAST WRAP UP MIDWEST ALLIANCE OF SOVEREIGN TRIBES SETS AN AGENDA OF HEALTH AND SMART GROWTH TO BE SHARED WITH THE WHITE HOUSE Washington, DC (February 13, 2013) – The Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes met this week in Washington, DC for their Impact Week. The organization, which represents 35 sovereign tribal nations and over 200,000 American Indian people, came together at the Holiday Inn Capitol for a two day legislative setting agenda to prepare them for upcoming Congressional and White House visits on Wednesday.

On Monday, MAST hosted a general assembly in which Ernie Stevens Jr., Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association, was invited to be the keynote for their luncheon. The Chairman, along with Executive Director Jason Giles, provided the MAST members with a legislative update regarding the latest in Indian gaming challenges and opportunities facing tribes.

The following day, the group of elected delegates heard from Congressional leaders like Daniel Kildee, government officials from FEMA, and Mary Pavel, the new Staff Director of the Senate Committee on

Indian Affairs. Lastly, their membership were assigned Capitol Hill visits and their White House visit.

“This is a great group to be a part of,” Chairman Stevens said. “We have leaders at the MAST table who know how to get things done. They understand the bigger picture for our Midwest communities, and that is through mutual respect and a strong concentration on goals and priorities. We are doing that here in Washington at the MAST Impact Week.”

Their meeting with key White House officials covered topics such as Indian sovereignty, continued government-to-government relations, steps to further the Indian Health Care Reauthorization, and a continued push on the Tribal Law and Order Act, among many other initiatives.

MAST leadership and Executive Director Scott Vele (Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians) attended the meeting.

National Indian Gaming Association would like to congratulate MAST on a successful Impact Week.

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Indian Gaming Update

NIGA CHAIRMAN REFLECTS ON THE 2013 STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS PRESIDENT OBAMA’S SPEECH IS RELEVANT FOR INDIAN COUNTRY REGARDING BUSINESS AND JOBS GROWTH

On February 12, 2013, the President of the United States delivered his State of the Union Address in the House chambers with Congress, his cabinet and invited guests watching. Millions of Americans watched this speech and so did Indian country. I watched and I listened.

In his speech, which lasted about an hour on television, President Barack Obama provided a blueprint for a lasting American economy built on bringing manufacturing, domestic energy, early childhood development and he advocated launching new education partnerships with schools and colleges.

He stressed the responsibilities of the American middle class, fairness in wages and new job creation in an era of a recession. Hearing this is important for Indian country.

According to the Small Business Administration, there are roughly 1.5 million Native Americans working throughout urban, rural, reservation and village communities. Jobs created by Indian gaming provide over 600,000 for Indian and our non-Indian neighbors.

The potential for growth is on our horizon as much as it is for the American middle class. Job creation and sustainability can occur in Indian country. And it is because of our brothers and sisters who have the drive to follow their dreams and open a business. Today, these business owners are sharing their entrepreneurial spirit with Indian Country.

However, we still need equal access to foster those ideas and understand exactly how a profitable business can work. As of January 2011, the SBA Emerging Leaders (e200) Initiative has produced 234 Native American graduates from 12 locations across Indian Country. And in 2009, Andrew Wells III, a member of the Red Lake Ojibwa Tribe, was awarded as Minnesota Small Business Person of the Year. These awards are becoming more prevalent for our community and I have a feeling I am going to meet a few of them at our March 24-27, 2013 NIGA Tradeshow in Phoenix at the American Indian Business Network.

One of these entrepreneurs you will meet at the AIBN reception is Jamie Fullmer of Bluestone Strategy.

He is a former chairman of the Yavapai-Apache Nation and believes that a clear vision guides the leadership essential to fueling strong Native communities now and

into the future. The AIBN reception is where you can meet businesses that have gone beyond gaming, promoting economic development. These Native businesses are vital.

Obama reminded us there are no Americans fighting in Iraq, there has been important progress in Afghanistan, and new protections have been provided to the Libyan people. We are always grateful to our relatives and our fellow Americans who are serving in our armed forced. As of March 2012, the Pentagon reports 22,248 active-duty Native military members.

That is important to remember and we thank them and the many other generations of warriors who have served this country proudly.

He championed the Senate in passing the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization bill, which has also passed in the House of Representatives and now awaits a Presidential signature. What this will do is provide new protections for our Native women who are victims of domestic violence, and give more attention to sexual assault prevention and to help reduce the backlog in some cases. Further, under the Senate bill, tribal courts will be able to try non-Native American men accused of abusing Native American women on tribal lands.

Currently, this is something that tribal courts currently lack jurisdiction to do. This is an issue of sovereignty, and our tribal governments should have the tools and authority to prosecute, try and punish offenders who commit violence against our Native women.

In Obama’s first term, Indian county’s leadership has been fortunate to work closely with his administration to get much accomplished in Indian country. Now, according to his State of the Union Address yesterday, his second term will focus on immigration, gun control, and the economy. He announced a pullout of 34,000 troops from Afghanistan and a call for an increase of the minimum wage for workers to $9 dollars.

As his plan unfolds, we will be there to affirm the rights of our Native people, promote the sovereignty of our Tribes, and strengthen Indian self-determination.

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PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SIGNS EXPANDED VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT HAS SET STANDARD FOR HOW TO PROTECT WOMEN AND IS CREDITED WITH HELPING REDUCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENTS BY TWO-THIRDS SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1994

Tulalip Tribes Vice Chair Deborah Parker and Theresa Sheldon (Tulalip Tribes) provide a women warrior honor song for the 18th Annual “National Indian Women Supporting Each Other Honoring Luncheon.” March 6, 2013. Washington, DC.

After much debate and passing in the House and Senate, President Barack Obama has signed into law a bill extending and expanding domestic violence protections, ushering in a legislative victory for Native American women.

Approached by tribal leaders, Obama signed the extension to the Violence Against Women Act in a ceremony Thursday at the Interior Department, which overseas programs for Native Americans. A key provision of the expanded law strengthens protections for victims who are attacked on tribal land.

Vice President Joe Biden, who as a senator wrote and sponsored the original bill in 1994, was also scheduled to speak at the ceremony.

The law strengthens the criminal justice system’s response to crimes against women. White House press secretary Jay Carney called the extension “a very important milestone” that would give law enforcement new tools to respond to domestic violence, sexual

assault and human trafficking.

The Senate version of the bill allowed tribal courts to prosecute non-Indians who attack their Indian partners on tribal lands, giving Native American authorities the ability to go after crimes that federal prosecutors, for lack of resources, often decline to pursue.

The Violence Against Women Act has set the standard for how to protect women, and some men, from domestic abuse and prosecute abusers and is credited with helping reduce domestic violence incidents by two-thirds since its inception in 1994.

The renewal authorizes some $659 million a year over five years to fund current programs that provide grants for transitional housing, legal assistance, law enforcement training and hotlines. It reauthorizes the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, adds stalking to the list of crimes that make immigrants eligible for protection, and authorizes programs dealing with sexual assault on college campuses and rape investigations.

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Indian Gaming Update

key quotes from Jefferson Keel:

“

Indian nations are best governed

by Indian people.”

“As we are revitalizing our own economies, tribes are becoming key players in America’s economic recovery.

“Thanks to more international trade agreements developed by tribal leaders, our businesses—and those of many other tribes—reach all around the globe.

FOR A LINK TO VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: HTTP://YOUTU.BE/D7PWYLCDHOO

NCAI STATE OF INDIAN NATIONS ADDRESS HIGHLIGHTS NCAI PRESIDENT PROVIDES ITS ANNUAL STATE OF INDIAN NATIONS ADDRESS DAYS AFTER PRESIDENT OBAMA DELIVERED HIS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS Washington, DC (February 14, 2013) – Jefferson Keel, President of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) delivered the annual State of Indian Nations Address on Thursday, February 14, 2013 from Washington, DC. The State of Indian Nations address, scheduled for 10:30 a.m. EST, was held at the Newseum in Washington, DC in the building’s Knight Studio for television broadcast. As is tradition, the State of Indian Nations address is scheduled just days after the United States President delivers the State of the Union.

The following points are some key quotes from Jefferson Keel: FOR A LINK TO VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: HTTP://YOUTU.BE/D7PWYLCDHOO

“Congress must reauthorize the landmark Violence Against Women Act and assure that tribal governments have the authority to prosecute nonNative men accused of violence against women on tribal lands.

“Tribes have faced new immigration for over 500 years, and we know it has its challenges!

“Congress must pass a clean Carcieri fix right now!

“We urge Congress to honor the trust responsibility by maintaining support for education, housing, roads, law enforcement, and energy development.

“Gaming, just one example of economic development, has generated funds for tribes to invest in schools and provide talented young Indians with scholarships. In fact, in the past 30 years, the number of American Indian and Alaska Native students enrolled in college has more than doubled.

“That trust, ultimately, is the principle that must guide us—all of us—as we go forward and do right by all of our children and grandchildren.

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”

NIGA CHAIRMAN AFFIRMS STATE OF INDIAN NATIONS ADDRESS NIGA CHAIRMAN ERNIE STEVENS JR PRAISES JEFFERSON KEEL’S STATE OF INDIAN NATIONS ADDRESS Washington, DC (February 15, 2013) – Jefferson Keel, President of the National Congress of American Indians delivered the annual State of Indian Nations Address on Thursday, February 14, 2013 from Washington, DC. The State of Indian Nations address, which was scheduled for 10:30 a.m. EST, was hosted at the Newseum in Washington, DC for a live television broadcast. As is tradition, the State of Indian Nations address is scheduled just days after the United States President delivers the State of the Union.

National Indian Gaming Association Chairman Ernie Stevens Jr., who sat along other tribal dignitaries and appointed government officials, said this of the Address: “President Keel’s address was very powerful and provides encouragement for all of indian Country. His message of ‘strength’ reinforces everything Indian country stands

for: protection of tribal sovereignty, securing our communities, securing our nations, and securing our future. It is clear that we are united in our efforts in Washington.

“The State of Indian Nations concluded a very busy week in DC. A large amount of tribal leaders spent the week meeting with the administration and visiting the Capitol Hill. It is significant knowing that many of our tribal leaders are walking together including several newly elected tribal officials who are continuing this momentum.”

The NCAI’s Secure Our Future is a transparent report that has been compiled in collaboration with tribal leaders, Native organizations, and tribal budget consultation bodies. This report, with support of tribal citizens and organizations like NIGA, is a profile of the current state of trust responsibility and support tribal economic security and prosperity.

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Indian Gaming Update

NATIONAL INDIAN GAMING ASSOCIATION BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OF THEIR TRIBAL LEADERS CONFERENCE CENTER ASSOCIATE MEMBER CONSTRUCTION GROUP WILL PROVIDE EXTENSIVE EXPANSION TO NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS Washington, D.C. (February 21, 2013) - The National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA), a national nonprofit organization that advocates on behalf of Tribal Nations with gaming facilities, has started the renovation of their historic headquarters building located on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Expected to be completed by Fall 2013, the building expansion will provide a Tribal Leaders Conference Center, expanded office space to house a Tribal gaming law resource center, and an underground parking garage.

The 10,500-square-foot expansion/renovation was designed by the architecture, engineering and planning firm Leo A Daly. The project is being built by Talako Construction, LLC, a Native American-owned general contractor and a Tribal member of NIGA. “This gives us such a fantastic opportunity to do even more in Washington, D.C.,” NIGA Chairman Ernie Stevens said. “Our long time NIGA Associate Member Leo A Daly has been at the helm of this project, and I’m eager to see its completion so that we may expand our capabilities to serve the Indian gaming industry in our upgraded headquarters.” The new added facility will accommodate visiting Tribal members and their conference needs as well.

The addition of the Tribal Leaders Conference Center and a multi-story connection between the historicmain house and Revolutionary-era carriage house structures will transform NIGA’s headquarters from a functional office space to a prime conferencemeeting center for legislative activities on Capitol Hill. The Tribal Leaders Conference Center will have seating capacity for approximately 150 people and will have an open link to a landscaped terrace for

GENEROUS FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY DOWNSTREAM CASINO, THE FOREST COUNTY POTAWATOMI COMMUNITY, THE FORT MCDOWELL YAVAPAI NATION, THE JICARILLA APACHE NATION, THE LYTTON RANCHERIA-BAND OF POMO INDIANS, MIAMI TRIBE ENTERTAINMENT, THE PECHANGA BAND OF LUISIENO INDIANS, THE POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS, POB INSURANCE, THE SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS, THE SANTA YNEZ BAND OF CHUMASH INDIANS, THE SEMINOLE TRIBE OF FLORIDA, THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX, THE SOBOBA BAND OF LUISENO INDIANS, THE SYCUAN BAND OF THE KUMEYAAY INDIANS, THE MOHEGAN TRIBE, THE THREE AFFILIATED TRIBES, THE TULE RIVER INDIAN TRIBE. indoor/outdoor events. In addition, the second floor allows for overflow conferencing via CCTV. Leo A Daly’s portfolio of work for Native American clients spans more than 15 years and includes notable projects such as Casino Del Sol Resort and Conference Center, Tucson, Ariz.; Meskwaki Settlement High School, Tama, Iowa; Reno-Sparks Indian Colony Tribal Health Center, Reno, Nev.; Sandia Casino, Albuquerque, N.M.; and Sky Ute Casino Resort, Ignacio, Colo.

To become a donor, please email info@indiangaming.org.

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