and Indian country as a whole. “Women in Leadership – Innovation, opportunity, and performance within government & business are enhanced through gender balance, brought together four very prominent women leaders in Indian Country. Moderated by Jackie Pata, Executive Director of the National Congress of American Indians, this tribal leader panel delved into discussions about their lives, leadership, and balance. They included Melanie Benjamin, Executive Chief of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, Paulette Jordan, Idaho State Representative and NIGA Secretary and Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation President Bernadine Burnette. NIGA Chairman Ernie Stevens,
Jr., stressed the cultural relevance and the importance of recognizing the strength of Native women. “I was raised powerful women, and their guidance has molded in me the importance of respecting our women. Their leadership role serves the pillars of strength, determination, and success in my life.” Throughout the trade show, women empowering workshops and panels were presented. This included a panel entitled “Native Women Influencers and Trailblazers in Gaming,” moderated by Margo Gray, President of Margo Gray & Associates. The group included Elizabeth Homer, Attorney, Principal at Homer Law Chartered, Kelly Myers, Licensing Manager for the Cherokee Nation Gaming Commission, Pam Shaw, Chief Operating Office of the Kaw Nation Gaming, Inc., and Paulette Jordan, Idaho State Representative and Board Secretary of the National Indian Gaming Association. Panel moderator Margo Gray said about the session, “This workshop was a very powerful session. It was made up of Native women professionals who have managed to build upon their leadership skill in the gaming industry, and are now the leaders of this industry. Our discussions evolved around the challenges Native women face in reaching that higher level and it was also our opportunity to encourage and be a support for other Native women in business and gaming who are looking at the potentials of moving forward and building upon their careers in this industry.” The “Indigenous Women Rise,” panel hosted a dynamic group of Native women, which included the co-founders of the “Indigenous Women Rise.” Sarah Eagle Heart, Chief Executive Officer of Native Americans in Philanthropy served as moderator and panelists included Deborah Parker, Co-Founder of Indigenous Women Rise, Chrissie Castro, President and Chief Executive Officer of Christie M. Castro & Association and Indigenous Women Rise and Bethany Yellowtail, Designer at B.YELLOWTAIL and Indigenous Women Rise.
They shared their experience of collaborative women’s leadership in mobilizing Indigenous women from throughout the country, as well as their future agenda with network building, political participation, advocacy and business development. Other Women empowered workshops included, “Women in Tribal Leadership: How Do We Break Down Communication Barriers and Effectuate Change,” presented by Tabatha Addison, Executive of the Addison Group. The session established as a growth session, for continued discussions at the upcoming NIGA Mid-year event, hosted a variety of ‘Open Space Discussions,’ with a variety of some of the gaming industries leading women. Topics included “How do we prepare women to overcome communication “bullying,”’ hosted by Renita DiStefano, Chief Information Officer of the Seneca Gaming Corporation, “Career Support,” presented by Marianne Waldrop, a Leadership Consultant with the San Diego State University, “Community Bullying and Women Bullying Women,” “Finding Your Voice,” “Job Flexibility,” and Start a trade association dedicated to women in Tribal Gaming,” which was presented by Dr. Kate Spilde, Associate Professor at San Diego State University, Valarie Spicer, Founding Partner of the Trilogy Group and Susan Jensen, Executive Director of the California Nation’s Indian Gaming Association. Closing out the vast track of women panels also included, “The Power of your Brand,” presented by Ann Nicholson, Chief Executive Officer of the Simmons Group. This panel took a look at the female perspective of projecting their personal brand. Discussions centered around ways to identifying personal awareness of the internal dialogue and communication in a variety of ways, and to gain insight into improving self-outlook, explore communications that energize surroundings and discussions of the components of establishing the individual’s personal brand.
5 | INDIAN GAMING UPDATE - TRADESHOW EDITION 2017
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