The pandemic is obviously not over by any means, but Tr ibal Governments have never been in a stronger posi t ion to address the needs of thei r ci t izens. Our messaging over the years has resul ted in a bi -part isan understanding that Tr ibal Sovereignty means Tr ibal Governments have jur isdict ion over our lands and people wi thout except ion. In my home State of Washington, we did not always see eye to eye wi th the Governor ’s covid pol icies, but he respect ful ly worked wi th State and local agencies to implement condi t ions that sui ted both of our jur isdict ions. This type of scenar io played out across Indian Country, even in States where Tr ibal Governments implemented far str icter Covid measures than thei r respect ive Governors. The Ass ociat ion’s outreach dur ing the pandemic carr ied over to the new Biden Administrat ion where our col lect ive advocacy ensured Indian Country was included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act . Wi thin this infrastructure law is over $11 bi l l ion for Indian Country to improve thei r transportat ion systems, repai r water systems, expand broad band access, and promote Tr ibal economic sel f-suff iciency. Tr ibal Governments have a lot to coordinate as the Act is implemented, but we must remain uni ted behind our core key pr inciples: protect ion of tr ibal sovereignty and foster ing economic act ivi ty on the reservat ion. This in turn wi l l provide for the next seven generat ions of our Indian communi t ies. I want to thank our Member Tr ibes for your support over the past two years. We simply could not have achieved so much for Indian Country wi thout your support . I look forward to cont inuing my work wi th the Indian Gaming Board of Di rectors, Tr ibal and Associate Members, and al l of Indian Country in this pivotal elect ion year. My message as Vice- Chai rman is the same since my f i rst term: “Stay in mot ion…Forward Mot ion.” We must cont inue to work together to protect Indian Gaming and al l Tr ibal industr ies for the bet terment of our generat ions to come. “Together” Indian Country has proven we can confront any chal lenge, even something as big as a wor ldwide, once in a generat ion, pandemic. The bigger the chal lenge, the bigger the achievement , whi le always moving forward.
INDIAN GAMING - ANNUAL REPORT 2022 9
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