WENDELL CHINO HUMANITARIAN AWARD ACKNOWLEDGES LEADERSHIP Swinomish Indian Tribal Community Chairman & NCAI President Brian Cladoosy Honored
National Congress of American Indians President and Chairman of Swinomish Indian Tribal Community Brian Cladoosby received the Wendell A. Chino Humanitarian Award at the National Indian Gaming Association’s 2017 Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention. NIGA Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr. said, “I’ve had the distinguished honor to stand on the front lines with President Cladoosby over our years in our leadership roles. His passion and dedication to defending the sovereign rights of our tribal communities are always first and foremost in his mind. He is a true Indian Country Warrior.” Mark Chino, Wendell Chino’s son and former chairman of the Mescalero Apache tribe said, “Part of my dad’s legacy is that he tried to educate people
previously honored with the humanitarian award. Cladoosby spoke admirably of Chino who was an exceptional orator who could command and convince audiences to truly understand the sovereignty of tribes that catapulted Indian gaming and overall economic development for Indian Country. He said, “Wendell Chino was probably one of the most dynamic leaders of our time, and while he’s gone to the spirit world his memory lives on everywhere in Indian Country. It goes without saying, he paved the path for all tribal leaders to follow, because it was always about his people first, and he wasn’t afraid to take anyone on who got in his way of advancing his community.” Cladoosby attributed his success in leadership to the staff
at the very highest levels of government about what it is to be Indian and this is what we have to deal with as Indian people on a day to day basis.” Cladoosby humbly accepted the prestigious award by speaking about the impressive career of Chino and took a moment to recognize those who were
who support him. He said, “It is important to remember to surround yourself with professionals and let them be your advisors. The greatest thing you can do as a leader is to rely on the professionals you surround yourself with, and it will bring success to anything you do.”
18 | INDIAN GAMING UPDATE - TRADESHOW EDITION 2017
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