I supported IGA’s bi-partisan approach to advocacy with the message that protecting Tribal Sovereignty means Tribal Governments have jurisdiction over our lands and people without exception. In my home State of Washington, some of these jurisdictional battles played out over water, fishing, and hunting rights, while in Oklahoma the Tribes are facing attacks on their gaming enterprises and law enforcement jurisdiction. This was all made possible by the Supreme Court’s sudden reversal of tribal precedent in the Castro-Huerta opinion. This decision led to IGA and NCAI reconstituting their Taskforce to protect Tribal sovereignty. Through the Taskforce meetings, we heard from Tribal leaders that they are now facing jurisdictional challenges from the Federal Government itself regarding renewable energy resources and new pipelines being proposed across Tribal lands. The Supreme Court’s rulings have also opened up new lines of attack from commercial gaming against IGRA, and to attacks on tribal programs in federal agencies such as the SBA’s 8(a) program. Indian Country now faces a critical challenge this Election Year, we will need the newly elected or re-elected Congress for help in addressing these devastating Supreme Court rulings, and the attacks on Tribal Sovereignty they are generating. Indian Country must remain united behind our core key principles: protection of tribal sovereignty, complete jurisdiction within our Reservation boundaries, and fostering economic activity on the reservation. I want to again thank our Member Tribes for your support over the past four years. IGA simply could not have achieved so much for Indian Country without your support. I look forward to continuing my work with the IGA Board of Directors, Tribal and Associate Members, and all of Indian Country in this pivotal election year. I have repeated this mantra since my first term and it has served IGA well: “Stay in motion…Forward Motion.” This will be my guiding principal again no matter who wins this year’s elections. Given a new two year term, I pledge to continue the hard work of bringing Indian Country together and working with our sister organizations to protect Indian Gaming and all Tribal industries for the betterment of our generations to come. A United Indian Country is more powerful than any Super PAC or white collar lobbying firm. Our ancestors have proven we can confront any challenge, even challenges to the very existence of our Tribal Governments and Native peoples. “The bigger the challenge, the bigger the achievement, while always moving forward.”
9 INDIAN GAMING - ANNUAL REPORT 2023
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