and coordinated with NCAI and NARF on the filing of amicus curiae briefs, prevailing in the Court of Appeals prior to a twisted and tortured Supreme Court decision that allowed for such treatment. At the same time, our National Indian Gaming Team once again promoted $20 Billion for Tribal Gov’t Relief in the American Rescue Plan. In the famous 12-hour delay during the deliberation on the American Rescue Plan, the Senate included the following criteria for Tribal Government Relief: a) To respond to the public health emergency or its negative economic impacts, including assistance to households, small businesses, and nonprofits, or aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality; b) To respond to workers performing essential work during the COVID-19 public health emergency by providing premium pay to eligible workers; c) For the provision of government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue due to the COVID–19 public health emergency relative to revenues collected in the most recent full fiscal year prior to the emergency; and d) To make necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure. Treasury’s final rule provided further detail on eligible uses of funds and provided state, local, and Tribal governments substantial flexibility to determine how best to use payments from the SLFRF program to meet the needs of their communities. With clear and consistent messaging, the National Indian Gaming Team and our Member Tribes advocated for maximum Indian Self-Determination in the allocation of funds, sought authority to use funds to replace lost revenues, and aid for impacted industries, such as hospitality. Congress responded to the urgency of Indian country’s needs, and fully funded our request for $20 Billion in Tribal Government Rescue Plan Funding. Together with our Member Tribes, our National Indian Gaming Team sought and secured clarification that the American Rescue Plan applied to Indian Tribes on the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act. We were successful. Given the many successes of our National Indian Gaming Association Team, including our leadership, staff, consultants and most importantly, our Member Tribes. We felt that it was important to memorialize these achievements through a new Sovereign Gaming Nations Award. The famed sculptor George Rivera has sculpted “Lightning Boy,” in memory of his son Valentino Rivera, who journeyed to the Spirit World in 2016. Valentino was an outstanding Hoop Dancer, seen here in the Eagle Formation, and the Hoop represents the Sacred Circle of Life, which we seek to promote now and unto the 7 th Generation. This Sovereign Gaming Nations Award, representing our Tribal Cultural Renewal and our Nation and Community efforts to safeguard our People now and in the future, will find its home at the National Indian Gaming Headquarters Tribal Leaders Center. We thank all of our Member Tribes for strongly advocating, clearly messaging, and consistently promoting Indian nations as inherent sovereign Tribal Governments. Together, we will prevail.
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