Copyright © 2004 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Washington, D.C. - On Thursday, Feb. 12, National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) Chairman Ernest L. Stevens, Jr., addressed an audience of hundreds who had gathered for the 18th Annual National Reservation Economic Summit and American Indian Business Trade Fair (RES 2004) in Las Vegas, Nev. The Summit was organized by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development.

Stevens' address focused on the "true story" of Tribal government gaming and its contribution to building stronger Tribal economies. In 2002, Tribal Governmental gaming generated $14.5 billion in revenue. Tribal government gaming operations directly employ 300,000 people nationwide. Seventy-five percent of the employees are non-Native. "Indian gaming has proven to be a great economic tool for Indian Country, but the success doesn't stop at the reservation boundaries," said Stevens. "Indian Gaming has been a shot in the arm to many Tribes and to many communities." Tribal government gaming also is responsible for $70 million annually in charitable contributions.

"The true story of Indian gaming cannot be seen only in the numbers; Indian gaming is really about opportunity - opportunity to have a job, opportunity to go to a top-notch school, and opportunity to get excellent health care," said Stevens. "Tribal government gaming has become the corner stone of the new Indian economy."

Tribal economies have been strengthened, largely due to Tribal government gaming. Stevens reported that today Tribes have access to capital for investing in other business enterprises that also help build tribal governmental infrastructure. Tribal casino profits are being invested directly into Tribal infrastructure and many other economic development endeavors. Stevens highlighted an amendment to the U.S. Tax Code to stimulate business growth in Indian Country. H.R. 1421, the Tribal Government Tax-Exempt Bond Fairness Act of 2003, will help Tribes better finance their future business endeavors and planning.

Stevens highlighted a few legislative battles going on in Washington, D.C., including a proposed bill to tax Internet sales of tobacco products. This issue and another attack by well-known Indian fighters Congressmen Frank Wolf (R-Va.) and Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) represent a few challenges to Tribal sovereignty that are being currently monitored on Capitol Hill. "Even though Tribes continue to make progress in Washington, D.C., we must remain diligent and keep fighting to protect Tribal sovereignty," said Stevens.

Stevens called for the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development to collaborate with NIGA on two initiatives: the American Indian Business Network and the Hospitality Network, both formed by NIGA in 2003. The Network is designed to bring Indian owned businesses into closer contact with the supply and service opportunities offered by Tribal casinos and Tribally-based businesses. The Network also is intended to be a forum for businesses to showcase their products and interact with other business owners and potential customers.

Representing NIGA as Co-Chair of the American Indian Business Network, Joseph M. Perez of Initial Impressions discussed business initiatives in Indian Country on a panel that included Billy Cyprus, Miccosuki Tribal Chairman, and Keller George, representative of the Oneida Nation of New York. "Our ideas are guided by the goal of a Native American economy and using Indian gaming as a catalyst to start the economy and the Network as a tool to drive business between Indian Casinos, tribal enterprises and Indian owned businesses," said Perez.

In a meeting immediately following the general assembly, several of the organizations, including Indian Chambers of Commerce and other regional associations, met to discuss the collaboration with NIGA's American Indian Business Network. "The economic diversification of Tribes as a result of gaming coupled with the entrepreneurial programs designed for their Tribal members, has drastically increased the need for us to focus on our potential to fuel the gross Tribal product in this country," said Valerie Spicer, co-chair of the American Indian Business Network. "As this phenomenon occurs we need to ensure that qualified Indian businesses are fairly positioned in the front line of that growth."

The Native American Hotel and Resort Network -open to all hotel and hospitality industry people -- is another NIGA initiative designed to facilitate communication between hotel property owners and managers. NIGA provides the training and resources to help maximize profits, market more effectively, pool geographical resources and improve customer service.

RES 2004 also included a track, which focused on information technology and its importance to Tribes and rural America. Because of new and constantly changing technologies, rural America - including reservations - no longer needs to be remote and isolated. "Information technology is vitally important to the Tribal government gaming industry because our casinos depend on most sophisticated of security technology," said Stevens. "Our success depends on the high level of security that we have currently operating in our Tribal casinos and that is why more than $160 million is spent annually on the technology necessary to enforce its regulation."

In closing, Stevens invited all to attend NIGA's Annual Trade Show and Convention, which will take place April 4-7 in Albuquerque, N.M. "This year's Trade Show will be one of Indian Country's largest gatherings of Tribal leaders, regulators and Indian gaming professionals from throughout the United States," said Stevens. "NIGA's Trade show is certainly one of the largest in the world when we are talking about gaming."

---

The National Indian Gaming Association is a non-profit trade association comprised of 184 American Indian Nations and other non-voting associate members. The common commitment and purpose of NIGA is to advance the lives of Indian people - economically, socially and politically. NIGA operates as a clearinghouse and educational, legislative and public policy resource for tribes, policymakers and the public on Indian gaming issues and tribal community development.

Ernest L. Stevens, Jr. is beginning his first term as Chairman and national spokesman for the organization. From 1993 to 1999 Mr. Stevens was elected councilman for the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. He is a former First Vice-President of the National Congress of American Indians and is currently serving out the final months of his term as Treasurer. As a respected leader in Indian Country, he also serves on the Executive Board to the Native American Rights Fund, National Indian Child Welfare Association, Boys and Girls Club of America (Native American Advisory Board), National Indian Telecommunications Institute, Start-A-Heart in Indian Country and the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee.