IGA HOSTS NCAI/IGA TRIBAL LEADERS TASK FORCE SESSION AT SLS 2023
Indian Gaming Association and the National Congress of American Indians came together at the 2023 IGA Summer Legislative Summit this week to provide updates on the NCAI/IGA Tribal Leaders Taskforce. In the photo L-R - Jason Giles, Executive Director of IGA; Pechanga Band of Indians Chairman Mark Macarro, who is also 1st Vice President of NCAI and an IGA Board Member; Fawn Sharp, President of NCAI; Larry Wright, Jr., Executive Director of NCAI and Ernie Stevens, Jr, Chairman of IGA.
Washington, D.C – July 19, 2023 – On Wednesday, July 19, the Indian Gaming Association continued the 2023 Summer Legislative Summit at the Stanley Crooks Tribal Leaders Conference Center with continued dialogue between tribal leaders and Congressional representatives and a discussion with the reactivated NCAI-IGA Tribal Leaders Taskforce. The IGA Summer Legislative Summit is one of two yearly forums designed to bring Tribal leaders together from throughout Indian country to discuss issues central to tribal communities and tribal governments. Indian Gaming Association Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr., opened the summit’s last day. He said, “When we continue to dialogue with Congress, Federal agencies, and Tribal Organizations, we are continuing to impress upon them the importance of the government-to-government relationship between Indian country and the federal government. There are critical health, safety, infrastructure, and educational issues impacting our Reservations. This summit serves as a major catalyst for increasing our awareness efforts and galvanizing Congress to uphold its trust responsibilities to Tribal Governments.”
He added, “The work that we have to do here is immense and comes with an enormous responsibility to ensure Indian Country’s concerns are heard.” The day started with an update from the NCAI-IGA Taskforce presented by IGA Chairman Stevens and President Fawn Sharp of NCAI. Executive Director Jason Giles, along with Larry Wright, Jr., Executive Director of the National Congress of American Indians, provided specific policy issue updates on gaming, health care, the environment and infrastructure in Indian Country. Stevens shared, “It is important to stress that both organizations [IGA and NCAI] are here at the direction of tribal leadership, and we continue to work together to stand firm in protecting our tribal sovereign rights.” He added, “This task force will hold this Country to its commitments and promises.” Fawn Sharp, President of NCAI, added, “I am fiercely committed to the NCAI/IGA Taskforce because the challenges are immense and we all need to come together.” She added, “We need swift and decisive action to address the threats to tribal sovereignty. And that is why we are here today; there’s a
20 | INDIAN GAMING UPDATE - 2023 YEAR IN REVIEW
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