INDIAN GAMING - ANNUAL REPORT 2025 – 9
fishing, and hunting rights, and the loss of our federal partners in these endeavors will not diminish Tribal jurisdiction. The Maverick case, also emanating from my home state of Washington, now sits before the Supreme Court. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court’s recent past rulings have opened new lines of attack from commercial gaming and opponents of Tribal Sovereignty to campaign against IGRA. With a diminishing federal workforce presence and a deterioration in the federal trust responsibility to Tribes, we can unfortunately expect more attacks on tribal programs and tribal entities. Indian Country now faces a challenging year ahead. We will need the newly elected Congress to address some of these these devastating Supreme Court rulings and reverse some of the cuts to Tribal programs. We are positive our allies on both sides of the political aisle will address these concerns as long as Indian Country remains united behind our core key principles: protection of tribal sovereignty, complete jurisdiction within our Reservation boundaries, and fostering economic activity on the reservation. These past several decades are proof that a strong and resilient Indian Country makes the Nation stronger and uplifts the lives of all citizens. I want to again thank our Member Tribes for your support over the past four years. Without your Tribe’s support, paying your IGA dues, attending this wonderful Tradeshow, IGA simply could not have achieved so much for Indian Country. We look forward to continuing our work with the IGA Board of Directors, Tribal and Associate Members, and all of Indian Country in this pivotal year. I have repeated this mantra since my first term and it has served IGA well: “Stay in motion…Forward Motion.” A United Indian Country is more powerful and durable than any radical changes to the Federal Government. Our ancestors have proven we can confront any challenge, even challenges to the very existence of our Tribal Governments and Native peoples. “The bigger the challenge, the bigger the achievement, while always moving forward.” I truly appreciate all of the hard work and dedication of our entire IGA team. Thank you, David Z. Bean , IGA Vice-Chairman
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