TRIBAL LEADERSHIP PRESENTED LEGISLATIVE PANELS
NIGA Executive Board with Shakopee Mdewankton Sioux Community Vice Chairman Keith Anderson presents a contribution to the gaming organization. In photo (L-R) Chairman Stevens, Paulette Jordan, Secretary, Andy Ebona, Treasurer, Vice Chairman Keith Anderson and NIGA Vice Chairman Kevin Leecy.
The two-day National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA), Tribal Leaders meeting, continued on Wednesday afternoon, April 12 with the annual elections of the Chairman and Secretary positions at NIGA. Both current NIGA Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr., and Secretary Paulette Jordan were seeking re-election to their positions unopposed and were successful to garner the unanimous tribal leadership support to regain their positions. This is the eighth two-year term for NIGA Chairman Stevens and the second two-year term for Secretary Jordan. NIGA Chairman thanks the membership and said, “I am humbled by your continued belief in me, and I pledge to you once again. I will continue to maintain my belief that my work is my campaign and it is something I take very seriously. We have a big agenda, and we must continue to work together to continue to accomplish that work on behalf of the people we serve. I am re-affirming my commitment to you all.” Following the leadership election, the Shakopee Mdewankton Sioux Community presented a check, contributing to the NIGA to support the organization representation
Keith Anderson, Shakopee Vice Chairman, presented the check to the NIGA Board of Directors and said, “It is our honor to present NIGA with this contribution today. We value the work they do for all of Indian Country in Washington, D.C.” The tribal leadership then focused on Energy with a panel moderated by NIGA Secretary Paulette Jordan. Panelist included Raina Thiele, owner of Thiele Strategies, LLC and Chris Deschene, Director of the Office of Indian Energy at the Department of Energy. The next panel “Tribal Economy: Now and in the Future” was moderated by Robert Odawi Porter, Esq., Odawi Law PLLC and Mark Van Norman, Esq. of Van Norman Consulting. The panelist included Mark Macarro, Chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indian, Todd Gates, Chairman of the Seneca Nation, Randy Phelan, Vice Chairman of the MHA Nation and Joe Nayquonable, Jr., Chairman of the Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures. The agenda concluded with the official retiring of the colors by the Southern California American Indian Veterans Association.
In the photos: Chris Deschene, Director of the office of Indian Energy at the Department of Energy and Raina Thiele, Owner of Thiele Strategies, LLC who presented an energy panel to the Tribal membership. Right Photo: The Southern California Indian Color Guard group opens the annual membership meetings by posting colors.
9 | INDIAN GAMING UPDATE - TRADESHOW EDITION 2017
Made with FlippingBook Online document