On Wednesday, February 1, the Indian Gaming Association continued with Day 2 of the 2023 Winter Legislative Summit at the Stanley Crooks Tribal Leaders Conference Center. The IGA Winter Legislative Summit is one of two yearly forums designed to bring Tribal leaders from throughout Indian country to discuss issues central to tribal communities and governments. A special guest joined Tribal Leaders on the second day to announce some big news. Representative Rueben Gallego (D-AZ) visited with Tribal Leaders and announced he would be launching a Senate campaign this year. Arizona Tribal leaders in attendance, such as Chairman Terry Rambler San Carlos Apache, enthusiastically supported his announce candidacy and urged Indian Country to unite behind him. Representative Gallego is a long-time supporter and defender of Indian Country and, most notably, helped secure much-needed Covid relief funds for Tribal Governments on par with State and Local Government relief. As a Marine Corps Veteran, Mr. Gallego has much in common with our Tribal warriors who have served this Nation at the highest per capita rate of any group. Indian Gaming Association Vice-Chairman David Bean picked up on the day’s theme when he helped to introduce Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN), co-founder of the House Native American Caucus with Congressman Tom Cole (R-OK). Vice-Chair Bean said, “As we continue our dialogue with Congress and Federal agencies, we are continuing to impress upon them the importance of our critical Indian country issues, and this summit serves as a major catalyst for increasing our education efforts.” Bean added, “The work that we must do here is immense and comes with an enormous responsibility to make sure Indian Country’s concerns are heard. The list of priorities is long, but they are all centered upon improving the lives of our Tribal citizens and our neighbors.” Congresswoman McCollum did not mince words when she told the assembled Tribal Leaders that Indian issues have many hurdles to overcome this year to become law. She urged unity in purpose and to lean into our allies in Congress so that this new body of Congressmen and women understand the pillars of Indian policy rest upon their oath to the Constitution. Tribal Leaders received a Supreme Court Update from NARF on the many challenges to Tribal Sovereignty and Tribal Government jurisdiction being pressed in the Federal Courts. In addition to the Brackeen Indian Child Welfare case heard by the Supreme Court last term, there are new challenges to Tribal independence from cases such Arizona Senator Rueben Gallegos joined the IGA and representative from San Carlos Apache Tribe after meetiing to discuss legislative and policy issues related to 118th Congress and Indian Country.
as Maverick in Washington State and Smith v. U.S. in Oregon. Tribal litigators from NARF and Oklahoma pressed upon Tribal leaders to fill gaps in the law and jurisdiction with their own Tribal laws before the Federal courts rule on Tribal issues. Further, there is still time for Indian legislation from Congress to send a message to federal judges that Tribal Nations are distinct separate sovereigns that pre-dated the United States and their inherent sovereignty cannot be diminished. The agenda continued with representatives from the Biden Administration. Tribal Leaders heard from Daron Carreiro, Senior Policy Advisor for Native Affairs at the White House, and Bryan Newland, Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, and Paula Hart, Director of the Office of Indian Gaming, Bureau of Indian Affairs. These Administration officials engaged in a long, open dialogue with Tribal Leaders in attendance. While acknowledging the many accomplishments in just two short years, including the game- changing Infrastructure and Jobs Act, Tribal Leaders pressed the Administration to capitalize on these successes and strengthen Tribal self-sufficiency and economic independence. There is still a lot to accomplish in protecting Tribes from State Government overreach on dual taxation and leveling the playing field for Tribal Governments and Tribal Enterprises. Tribal Leaders will continue to meet in D.C. and push for these reforms and provide the Administration with the momentum it needs to move Federal Indian policy into a new era. Finally, the Interior representatives stated they continue to work on the development of policies and procedures to clarify and streamline land into trust issues and Class III compacting with State Governments. Tribes view the Secretary’s responsibilities under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (IGRA) as sacrosanct when it is related to land acquisition, tribal-state gaming compacts, and gaming-related contracts. These are not merely regulations carrying out the mandates of Congress; they are federal trust responsibilities as mandated by Treaties and the Constitution. Tribal Leaders are looking to build upon last November’s in-person Tribal Summit with the President and hope to accomplish these goals in advance of 2023’s Tribal Leaders Summit.
15 | INDIAN GAMING UPDATE - 2023 FIRST HALF EDITION
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