Native Business Magazine - November/December 2019

NATIVEBUSINESSMAG.COM | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 | $8.95

The GREATEST

SUCCESS STORIES of 2019

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SCAN ME!

NATIONAL INDIAN GAMING ASSOCIATION CHAIRMAN

ERNIE STEVENS, JR. Serving Tribal Governments as the Global Face of Indian Gaming

Chairman Rodney Butler on Pequot Perseverance

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SCAN ME! TRIBAL CASINOS NATIONWIDE PARTNER WITH NFL TEAMS

The Honorable James E. Campos: ADVANCING EQUITY IN ENERGY

GOVERNOR REGGIE WASSANA: CHEYENNE AND ARAPAHO TRIBES EXPAND ECONOMIC IMPACT MNO-BMADSEN LEVERAGES AN INNOVATIVE INVESTMENT STRATEGY NAFSA: HELPING TRIBES SUCCEED IN THE FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY FOR NEARLY A DECADE

IN THIS ISSUE

on the covers

Success & Finance Issue 2019 • Volume01 Number 10

PEQUOT PERSEVERANCE

NIGA Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr.: Serving Tribal Governments as the Global Face of Indian Gaming See page 12

BY ANDREW RICCI Tunica-Biloxi Chairman Marshall Pierite: Cherishing the Past and Building for the Future See page 30

BY ANDREW RICCI

Chairman Rodney Butler puts success into perspective and delivers a bold future forecast See page 8

Happening Now

Energy

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The Latest News From NativeBusinessMag.com

Advancing Equity in Energy:

The Greatest Success Stories of 2019

Tribal Casinos Enter the Lucrative Sports Betting Market

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The Honorable James E. Campos

Now Available: Download the Native Business Mobile App

The Greatest Success Stories of 2019

BY CARMEN DAVIS

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Banking/Finance

Legal Victories in Indian Country in 2019

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Stearns Bank Serves Rural America and Gets the Job Done

Cherokee Nation is leading the way in world-class healthcare with the debut of the largest Tribal outpatient health center & the first medical school in Indian Country

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10 Cheyenne and Arapaho Governor Reggie Wassana Sees Opportunity to Continue Expanding Tribes’ Economic Impact

Native American Financial Services Association: Helping Tribes Succeed in the Financial Services Industry For Nearly a Decade

BY MIKA LEONARD

Back Cover: Photo Courtesy Sheree Myers

Eighth Generation Sells to Snoqualmie Tribe in Unprecedented Business Move

26 Native Business Represents Indian Country on the Corporate and Federal Stages

Golden Opportunity: Tribes Turn to the Sun to Create a New Energy Economy

23 Tribal Casinos Nationwide Partner With NFL Teams

BY ANDREW RICCI

Front Cover: Photo Courtesy Ernest L. Stevens, Jr.

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Feature

28 Mno-Bmadsen Leverages an Innovative Investment Strategy, Grounded by a ‘Very Long Time Horizon’

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LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHERS

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FOUNDERS/PUBLISHERS Gary (Cherokee) and Carmen (Makah/Chippewa-Cree/Yakama) Davis

EDITORIAL Executive Editor Carmen Davis - carmen@nativebusinessmag.com Senior Editor Kristin Butler - kristin@nativebusinessmag.com

CREATIVE Art Director VestaLight Sevenly

WRITERS Contributing Writers Andrew Ricci • Suzette Brewer (Cherokee) • Lynn Armitage (Oneida Nation) Renae Ditmer (Chippewa) • Clifton Cottrell (Cherokee) Debra Utacia Krol (Xolon Salinan Tribe) • Josh Robertson • Theresa Braine Mary Belle Zook (Citizen Potawatomi Nation)

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©2019 Native Business Magazine is published by Native Business, LLC, all rights reserved. All contents are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without written consent from the Publisher. The advertiser is solely responsible for ad content and holds Publisher harmless for its advertising content and any errors or omissions.

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PHOTO BY WHITNEY BAIRD PHOTOGRAPHY

12819 SE 38th Street, #111, Bellevue, WA 98006

f we could only choose one word to sum up 2019, it would be breakthrough. Indian Country achieved breakthrough progress this year — and what an incredible way to transition into a new decade.

Our roundup of “The Greatest Success Stories of 2019” in our Success & Finance issue charts the business breakthroughs of Tribes and Tribal entrepreneurs. These achievements and milestones demonstrate the radically changing landscape of Indian Country’s economy.

Tribal casinos partnered with National Football League teams, patrons placed bets on professional and collegiate sports matches at multiple Tribally owned retail sportsbooks and online via mobile devices, the Cherokee Nation opened a world-class outpatient healthcare center and became the first Tribe in the country to build a medical school on Tribal land, and Tribes like the Yakama Nation and Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians won landmark legal cases that uphold Tribal sovereignty and support economic sustainability. Meanwhile Native entrepreneurs attained unprecedented levels of success, including Louie Gong, who sold Eighth Generation to the Snoqualmie Tribe in a move that will empower his lifestyle brand to expand in-state manufacturing operations and provide more opportunities for Native artists and professionals.

Need inspiration for 2020? Look no further than the pages of Native Business Magazine’s 2019 Success & Finance issue.

While breakthrough may describe many of the notable feats reached in 2019, Indian Country is well aware that the path to success isn’t paved overnight. Who possesses the hard-won wisdom of perseverance more than Indian Country?

Our cover stories are a testament to the long race, to success attained through tireless devotion and an unwavering commitment to Indian Country.

Ernie Stevens, Jr., and Cheryl Stevens, his wife of 37 years, grace one of the covers of our double-cover Success & Finance issue. This cover story pays tribute to Ernie Stevens’ nearly 20 years of leadership and stewardship to Indian gaming as Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA). Considering Indian gaming generated a total of $33.7 billion in gross gaming revenue in 2018 alone (more than $39 billion if you count ancillary revenues from hospitality ventures), NIGA protects and preserves the most successful avenue for economic development for many Tribal Nations: Indian gaming.

Tunica-Biloxi Chairman Marshall Pierite is featured on the opposite cover of our Success & Finance issue. Chairman Pierite said gaming carved the path for the Tribe to diversify beyond agriculture into hospitality. “It allowed us to transition from a ‘surviving community’ to a ‘thriving community’ overnight,” he said.

More recently, the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe is realizing success in the financial services industry through Mobiloans and now touts plans to create 1,500 to 1,800 more call center jobs throughout Louisiana and Indian Country by 2021.

In our Success & Finance issue, we also shine a light on the financial institutions lending capital for Tribal enterprises and Native small business owners to succeed. For instance, Native Business sat down with Kelly Skalicky, President and CEO of Stearns Bank, to discuss how her rural Minnesota-based bank, counting $2.2 billion in assets, is serving rural America and Indian Country through customized finance solutions such as lending and small-ticket equipment finance.

Meanwhile, Mika Leonard (Miami Tribe of Oklahoma), Chief Operations Officer of the Native American Financial Services Association (NAFSA), breaks down how NAFSA has defended Tribal sovereignty in the online lending industry since 2012, tremendously aiding the sector’s growth while creating unquestionable abundance and opportunity for Tribal governments nationwide.

Native Business also considers how a seventh generation philosophy informs the “buy, hold and grow” approach of Mno-Bmadsen, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians’ non-gaming investment arm, which targets a $25 million cash flow by 2022.

We channel our attention in another core direction for our Success & Finance issue, interviewing the Honorable James E. Campos, Director of the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity at the U.S. Department of Energy, who under-

scored: “Energy is our new economy, it is our new currency, and Native Americans play a large part in this equation.”

As the economy of Indian Country progresses, we at Native Business are also continuously sharpening our stick to keep pace with global innovation. That begins with the launch of the Native Business Mobile App — now live and ready for download on your iOS and Android devices! The user-friendly interface allows you to choose what you want to follow and receive news notifications about, share your favorite articles with your network, and easily search specific keywords to find the information that is important to you!

Our Success & Finance 2019 issue marks our final print edition of Native Business Magazine, as we transition Native Business into a fully digital platform. By embracing innovation and utilizing technology in this way, our publication is able to deliver Native business news and information to our readers easier and more efficiently than ever. Accordingly, we urge Native Business readers to download the Native Business Mobile App immediately and sign up for our email alerts and e-newsletter in order to stay on the pulse of the latest business news and trends relevant to Indian Country. Additionally stay in-the-know by reading NativeBusinessMag.com, subscribing and listening to the Native Business Podcast, tuning in to watch Native Business videos, following Native Business on social media, and registering to attend our second annual Native Business Summit, taking place September 1-3, 2020, at the fabulous Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Learn more at NativeBusinessSummit.com.

We are tremendously proud of every one of the visually stunning and value added print issues we’ve distributed since 2018. We are so grateful to our readership and community for your loyalty, and for growing and evolving with us every step of the way! We look forward to all of our amazing digital content being an even greater value add to you as a reader in the days, weeks and months ahead.

From our hearts to yours, we wish you a wonderful holiday, happy new year, and even greater prosperity in 2020 and the new decade ahead.

Onward, GARY DAVIS Publisher

CARMEN DAVIS

Publisher & Executive Editor

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Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood

Above: Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr.

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Native American Bank at 201 N. Broadway in Denver, Colorado.

PHOTOS COURTESY NUWU CANNABIS MARKETPLACE

Native American Bank, admittedly, has encountered some growing pains over the years. But its President and CEO, Thomas Ogaard, assures Native Business that the bank, an expert in lending on trust lands, has rebounded its assets to $130 million, after they plummeted to a low of $56.4 million in 2014.

As Chairman Kent Paul put it on October 24th at the opening ceremony for the bank’s new location, a stand-alone, single-story building in downtown Denver: “It’s all about perseverance, about the will to succeed.”

Native American Bank (NAB) has officially relocated its headquarters from the 24th floor of a Denver skyscraper to Denver’s Baker neighborhood at 201 N. Broadway.

The only national Native-owned certified

PHOTO COURTESY NATIVE AMERICAN BANK

As the footprint of Cherokee operations continues to grow, so does the Tribe’s economic influence on Oklahoma.

Cherokee Nation made a $2.169 billion economic impact in the state in fiscal year 2018, reflecting an increase of about 7% from 2016 and more than 100% from 2010.

“A vibrant and strong Cherokee Nation is essential for northeast Oklahoma’s long-term success. As our businesses grow more prosperous and create more jobs, our role in the state’s economy expands as well,” Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. said. “Our profits and the dollars we generate go directly to our people. We’re now helping more Cherokees improve their lives, as well as the lives of their children and their grandchildren.”

The Tribe’s economic upswing is seen across employment, labor income and more. The Nation’s production of the $2.17 billion of local goods and services supports 19,203 local jobs, generating regional labor income payments of $837 million. (The impact methodology of the biennial economic impact report does not include the nearly 1,977 Cherokee Nation contract workers that may be primarily located outside the Nation’s 14-county jurisdiction of northeast Oklahoma. ) The Nation’s steady financial impact and stimulus is particularly felt in Tulsa County. Mayor G.T. Bynum said the Tribe’s $673.7 million impact on Tulsa County extends well beyond that, adding that Cherokee Nation has supported public schools and college scholarships to the tune of millions of dollars. Mayor Bynum added that the Nation’s job training and world-class health care services make the Tribe a vital and unparalleled partner in city economic development efforts.

“When a company is thinking about whether or not they’re going to locate in your community or they’re going to grow there, they want to know what the commitment is to education and they want to know if you have a healthy workforce.

The Cherokee Nation is addressing both of those needs,” Mayor Bynum said.

NATIVE AMERICAN BANK OPENS DOORS TO NEW HEADQUARTERS & FIRST BRANCH IN COLORADO

A 450-foot guitar towers in Seminole country, headquarters of the Tribe and its now-global empire. On October 24th, the new Seminole Hard Rock Casino & Hotel Hollywood opened the doors to its 35-floor guitar-shaped hotel boasting 468 suites.

The Seminole Tribe invested $1.5 billion in the architectural marvel, pushing engineering limits.

“We’re building something that’s an attraction,” James Allen, CEO of Seminole Gaming and Chairman of Hard Rock International, told the Miami Herald.

“It’s not just gaming — not slots in a box.”

Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) in the country, NAB formed in 2001, when many of its initial Tribal and Alaska Native Corporation (ANC) investors purchased Blackfeet National Bank in Browning, Montana, with the aim of turning it into the only national Native-owned bank. The Denver-based NAB still operates the original bank in Montana. The new location marks its second retail branch, and its first in Colorado.

MAKAH ARTIST PARTNERS WITH SUPREME ON LINE OF BOMBER JACKETS Streetwear label Supreme has partnered with Makah artist Nytom, a.k.a. John Goodwin, to design a series of jackets for fall.

Supreme is known to team up with major corporations like Louis Vuitton and New York City MetroCards, so the collaboration with a solopreneur and Native American artist caught some attention — from streetwear fans to Vogue, which has charted Supreme’s meteoric rise from “cult skate shop to fashion superpower.”

Supreme discovered the 71-year-old artist online.

Impressed, it reached out to partner and leverage his stunning designs on their bomber jackets.

Through the process, Supreme demonstrated what culturally respectful and mutually beneficial business relationships can look like between Indigenous artists and non-Native companies.

Goodwin says his project with Supreme “strengthens our community by having original Northwest Coastal art featured on products seen around the world, and worn by celebrities and influencers. This has created exposure to our people, allowed us to speak about our issues, and most importantly, allows Native youth all over the world to see themselves represented on the big stage.”

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Above Inset: Makah artist John Goodwin Right: John Goodwin’s nephew Nick Courtney models Supreme’s Makah Zip Up Jacket.

HIGH ACHIEVER: LAS VEGAS PAIUTE TRIBE

The Las Vegas Paiute Tribe opened the largest cannabis dispensary in the world in October 2017. NuWu Cannabis Marketplace sprawls across 15,800 square feet on Tribal land in historic downtown Las Vegas and stays open 24/7, while offering customers another convenience, a drive-thru window — the first of its kind in the world. In April 2018, the United Soccer League team the Las Vegas Lights partnered with NuWu, becoming the first professional sports team in the

U.S. to ink a partnership with a marijuana dispensary. In early 2019, the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe introduced its second NuWu Cannabis Marketplace, roughly a third of the size of its original cannabis megastore, in the northwest valley of Las Vegas, also featuring a 24hour drive-thru.

In October 2019, the Tribe achieved yet another industry milestone, opening Nevada's first marijuana tasting lounge, located at its original NuWu Cannabis Marketplace. The Vegas Tasting Room offers a sample “flight” to patrons looking to try before they buy.

Vegas Tasting Room

LANDLESS FOR NEARLY SIX DECADES, WILTON RANCHERIA OFFICIALLY HAS A HOME

PHOTO BY KENRICK ESCALANTI

CHEROKEE NATION REMAINS A STEADYING & GROWING ECONOMIC FORCE WITH $2.2 BILLION IMPACT ON OKLAHOMA

PHOTO COURTESY JOHN GOODWIN

PHOTO COURTESY CHEROKEE NATION

THE LATEST NEWS FROM ACROSS INDIAN COUNTRY ON NATIVEBUSINESSMAG.COM & THE NATIVE BUSINESS MOBILE APP

GUITAR TOWER REFLECTS HARD ROCK’S INGENUITY AND FINANCIAL STRENGTH

PHOTO COURTESY HARD ROCK INTERNATIONAL

HAPPENING NOW

In a final decision, a federal judge ruled in favor of the Wilton Rancheria in October, putting 36 acres in trust for the Tribe, which has been landless since the termination era of the 1950s.

Following an arduous multi-year pursuit to open a casino in Elk Grove, California, the Wilton Rancheria finally received the ultimate decision in its homelands case and can proceed with its casino resort.

“We are gratified by the judge’s ruling to decisively reject dishonest arguments put forth by well-funded special interest groups that have tried at every turn to stop our project,” Chairman Raymond (Chuckie) Hitchcock said.

Elk Grove Casino will be the nearest casino to downtown Sacramento, and home to the largest convention space outside of it. “We will continue to move ahead with our plans to build the resort and casino, which will create thousands of jobs and represents the investment of hundreds of millions of dollars by Wilton Rancheria in the City of Elk Grove and Sacramento County,” Hitchcock said.

SISTER SKY, INC. TO LEVERAGE NATIVE BUSINESS TOP 50 ENTREPRENEURS ISSUE AS CURRICULUM MATERIAL FOR 5-YEAR SBA/ ONAA CONTRACT Profiles of the Native Business Top 50 Entrepreneurs from the May 2019 issue of Native Business Magazine will be featured in entrepreneurship curriculum delivered by Sister Sky, Inc. (SSI) to American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian entrepreneurs in all 10 U.S. Small Business Administration regions across the country.

Monica Simeon and Marina TurningRobe, the Spokane Tribal citizens and siblings behind SSI, an SBA 8(a) certified federal contracting business, have secured a five-year contract from the SBA’s Office of Native American Affairs (ONAA) to provide specialized training and technical assistance to new and established Native entrepreneurs.

Tasked with assembling comprehensive training materials, the business partners reached out to Native Business Founders and Publishers Gary and Carmen Davis to include

profiles of the Native Business Top 50 Entrepreneurs to showcase up-to-date examples of modern-day Native entrepreneurship.

“We don't have to look to a textbook with business case studies that may have been dated. This is like living-breathing now, and it’s innovative,” Simeon said. “The Native Business Top 50 Entrepreneurs issue was such a tremendous resource, and it was so empowering.”

Simeon highlighted the vast talent that exists within Native communities, as exemplified by the startup, growth and seasoned entrepreneurs operating diverse businesses across Indian Country, featured in the pages of Native Business Magazine’s Top 50 issue.

“It was so comprehensive,” Simeon noted.

“By that I mean, you could open up the magazine and you could see breweries, you could see law firms, you could see federal contractors, you could see construction companies. It was so wonderful to look to so much diversification within our community.”

When it comes to managing this federal contract, TurningRobe considers it “a labor of love,” she said. “Our spirit is serving our ancestors, and our hearts and hands are serving those not born yet in Indian Country. We are servant warriors to Indian Country.”

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Foxwoods Resort Casino

PEQUOT PERSEVERANCE

PEQUOT POWER 8

The Tribe has invested more than $2.7 billion in Foxwoods Resort Casino since its inception. To date, approximately 300 million visitors have set foot in the sprawling entertainment attraction. That’s an average of 35,000 visits a day, and more than 12.8 million visits per year.

Native Business recently spoke with Chairman Butler about the Tribe’s economic transformation, its achievements in 2019, and where the Nation is headed in 2020 and beyond.

As Chairman Butler put it, 2019 was a year of transition and “steadying the base.”

Felix Rappaport, who led Foxwoods as its President and CEO from 2014 to 2018, passed away unexpectedly in June 2018. “I think the hardest part about the loss of Felix was that he was just a great human being. He was inspirational to all of us,” said Chairman Butler, who stepped in to serve as interim CEO for a full year before Foxwoods secured a worthy replacement in John James.

Now the Tribe is looking ahead to the future of gaming, which Chairman Butler identified as sports betting and online gaming. They’re currently working with the governor's office and lawmakers to resurrect its proposed legislation to legalize sports betting and igaming under exclusive Tribal-state compacts for the 2020 session.

A recent economic impact report reveals that the Mashantucket Pequots are the eighth-largest employer in Connecticut with an $180 million payroll, plus $144 million in benefits — of which 77 percent is paid in Connecticut, most of it close to the City of Mashantucket.

The study reflects data up to the end of 2017, when the Tribe supported 12,500 jobs and generated $1.1

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Meanwhile, Foxwoods wants to leverage its brand power internationally. “We've certainly been pursuing branding and management opportunities, not just in the U.S. but around the globe,” Chairman Butler said.

Beyond gaming, the Nation is exploring government contracting and hemp (the Tribe is already a licensed grower in the state). Fast-forward to the fourth quarter of 2020, and Chairman Butler anticipates the Tribe is already processing and distributing its second crop.

That’s not all. “In Q4 2020, we're taking bets on the Giants - Patriots game in the next NFL season, and we have people across the state of Connecticut logging on to Foxwoods online and playing their favorite slot machines from the convenience of their own home,” he speculated.

While Chairman Butler enjoys celebrating the Tribe’s past and potential successes, he’s also quick to put things into perspective. “We’ve come a long way, not because it was easy, but because it was hard, and we fought and persevered,” he said. “I often reflect on … how easy it would have been for our ancestors to have just given up. And they didn't; they persevered. We have our Pequot perseverance, and that drives us to this day and continues to create success for us.”

billion in annual economic activity. In 2017, Tribal economic activity on the Mashantucket reservation yielded $145 million in direct Connecticut state and local government revenue, the lion’s share of which ($120 million) was the Tribe’s contribution of 25 percent of slot-machine revenue to the state. Accounting for indirect and induced fiscal consequences ($52 million), the combined impact on Connecticut was $197 million.

Working for Generations PHOTOS COURTESY CHEROKEE NATION FILM OFFICE

T

he Pequot War (1636-1637) nearly eliminated the Pequot Indians.

“We're one of a handful of Tribes who have a treaty that declared us extinct — the Treaty of Hartford in 1638,” Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Chairman Rodney Butler told Native Business.

Centuries later, in the 1970s, on the cusp of losing its land for eternity, the Tribe filed a lawsuit to recover 800 acres of its 1666 reservation in Connecticut. “It was a rallying point for our Tribe — behind the visionary leadership of Skip Hayward,” the Tribal Chairman from 1975-1998, Chairman Butler said.

That initiative changed the course of history.

Congress responded by passing the Connecticut Indian Land Claims Settlement in 1983, granting the Tribe federal recognition and the right to place land in trust. “That was the absolute most defining recorded moment that [eventually] led to our prosperity and where we're at today,” Chairman Butler said.

Soon thereafter, in 1986, the Pequots became one of the first Tribes in the country to pursue bingo, before launching Foxwoods in 1992. That reset the stage for the Pequots to become an economic powerhouse in the region, driving opportunities for the next 27 years and counting.

Chairman Rodney Butler

PHOTOS COURTESY MASHANTUCKET PEQUOT TRIBAL NATION

CHAIRMAN RODNEY BUTLER PUTS SUCCESS INTO PERSPECTIVE AND DELIVERS A BOLD FUTURE FORECAST

Our future is shaped by the decisions we make today. That’s why we’re investing $50 million in American Indian and Alaska Native nonprofits, from affordable housing and environmental programs to financial education and cultural preservation initiatives.

For over 50 years, we’ve been providing capital and financial services to Native communities and we’ll continue to work together to make better tomorrows for generations to come.

Find out more at

wellsfargo.com/nativecommunities © 2019 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC.

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Cheyenne and Arapaho Governor

Sees Opportunity to Continue Expanding Tribes’ Economic Impact

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ccording to a recent study, Oklahoma’s Native American Tribes generated an economic impact of $12.9 billion to the state’s economy through the production of goods and services, including more than 96,000 jobs in the state and $4.6 billion in wages and benefits to Oklahoma workers.

For the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, their share of that impact amounts to $261 million, including 1,924 jobs in Oklahoma and nearly $100 million in wages. The Tribes directly employ more than 1,400 individuals within their government, gaming, and investment operations in three Oklahoma counties.

In an interview with Native Business Magazine, Cheyenne and Arapaho Governor Reggie Wassana said that right now, the Tribes’ six Lucky Star casinos are the main economic engine for the Tribes.

“The Tribes started [gaming] in the mid1990s with one large bingo hall before the casinos came online as a legal enterprise of the Tribes, and from there we grew to a total today of six,” Wassana said. “We developed what we could with what resources we had, and we didn’t have a lot of money.”

The revenues now generated from these economic enterprises go toward taking care of the Tribes’ roughly 13,000 members, through programs providing services to elders, veterans, and youth, among others.

By Andrew Ricci

“We’ve been able to produce a distribution from our casinos with a budget of approximately $40 million per year that we allocate for all those programs,” Wassana said.

“We have also been upgrading some of our facilities that have been there since the 1990s.”

These upgrades include new carpet in their oldest facility, as well as a renovated bar area and a new restaurant. At another facility, the Tribes are replacing a facility comprised of three trailers put together with a brand-new facility featuring an 80room hotel.

“We’ve been trying to upgrade, expand, and build some new gaming enterprises so that we can provide more services for our elders, preserve their lives, and help our youth and veterans as well,” Wassana said. “We’ve been trying to be more progressive, get a lot more done, and generate more revenue."

Outside of gaming, Wassana said that the Tribes also operate and run two travel centers, own cattle, and have approximately 450 head of buffalo. Future plans include expanding the Tribes’ economic development efforts to include a processing plant for beef and buffalo, constructing cellular towers for mobile communications, and exploring opportunities in the hemp Governor Reggie Wassana (center) with Tribal industry. representatives and Lucky Star Casino executives “We have almost 13,000 acres of at the 2019 Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association Trade Show in Tulsa, Oklahoma. land, so we’re looking at trying to pro-

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duce hemp and sell it to manufacturers that want to make products from hemp,” Wassana said. “I think we’re going to head in that direction because it could be as big a market for the Tribes as the casino industry.”

In some of the counties in which the Tribes operate, Wassana said that they are the largest employers, which benefits not just the Tribes, but the community at large.

“It helps anchor and provide stability in those communities,” he said. “We’re able to help some of the schools and some of the civic functions that go on. Some events may not have happened or occurred if it wasn’t for the Tribes actually helping supplement or donating to those events.”

“We’re always trying to help the local community grow or maintain their growth so they can be productive,” Wassana continued. “If some of the casinos weren’t out in those areas, some of those towns would have to consolidate their school systems with other local school systems, so it’s just of vital importance to the local communities.”

“When there is a downturn or when there isn’t any economic development going on locally, the Tribes are always there to create jobs and help keep those economies going,” he said. “So the Tribes are really important to the rural areas because people there always see the activities that are being developed by the Tribes.”

“We’re always

trying to help the

local community

grow or maintain

their growth so they can be productive,”

There’s a feeling you get when you talk face-to-face, not face-to-website.

Wassana said.

PHOTOS COURTESY CHEYENNE AND ARAPAHO TRIBES

Reggie Wassana

Cheyenne and Arapaho Governor Reggie Wassana

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National Indian Gaming Association Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr.

“We’re pretty excited about where we are today,” he said. “We have amazing successes, but a lot of challenges still out there. So we hit the ground running and we get right back to work.”

ERNIE STEVENS, JR.:

SERVING TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS AS THE GLOBAL FACE OF INDIAN GAMING

F

By Andrew Ricci

or a man who is today considered by many to be the global face of Indian gaming, National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr. says that while growing up on the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin Reservation, he was not very happy with gaming — until he got a valuable lesson that put its impact into perspective.

“As a teenager, we had one real good gymnasium in our community, and it was fairly new,” Stevens told Native Business Magazine.

“And I wanted to play basketball and practice boxing, because I wanted to be the World Heavyweight Champion or the best basketball player in Indian Country, so that

was what drove me.”

“So I despised all those bingo cars pulling up every night and taking over our gym,” he continued.

Stevens said that when he went to the gym, he would move all of the chairs set up for bingo so he could do his workouts. When he was finished, he refused to put the chairs back, which created some problems.

“So they sat me down, and this is what they told me,” Stevens said. “They said, ‘Look at the lights turning on.’ They said, ‘You know, you play baseball all summer long on the ball diamond, and then we get the Boys and Girls Club van to ride into town to go swimming or to play sports.’”

“We were sitting in the gym by those same chairs, and they said, ‘We can’t turn those lights on,’” Stevens continued. “We can’t put gas in this recreation van. We can’t turn the ball diamond lights on — unless we play bingo.’ And that’s easy math for a teenage kid who just wants to play sports and think that’s all there is to life.”

“And so I found that I had a newfound respect not just for the bingo and the chairs, but for those people that came through our doors,” Stevens said.

Several decades later, in 2001, Stevens was elected to serve as NIGA’s Chairman, a position that he has now held for nearly 20 years.

Both of Stevens’ parents played a major role in his life and gave him a model to follow, even though they divorced when he was five years old.

“My mother was activist-minded,” he said.

PHOTO COURTESY ERNIE STEVENS, JR.

NATIONAL INDIAN GAMING ASSOCIATION CHAIRMAN

“Some may say she was a heck raiser; she was part of a movement in the 1960s and 1970s that people look back on as protests and signs and loud voices — and that is all true. But the real product that came out of that era was recognition for who we are: our traditions, our culture, our religion and education. Those are the kind of things I really feel that movement fixed, and so that was kind of her niche.”

His father, too, was a nationally-recognized leader, working in Washington, D.C. on behalf of Tribal Nations at the Bureau of Indian Affairs, as a lobbyist, as Executive Director of the American Indian Policy Review Commission, and, later, as the first Staff Director of what was then called the Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs.

“Both of my parents, independently, did great things to change the world around us,” Stevens said. “And, you know, I just really wanted to be like them, and I wanted to change the world.”

NIGA’s origins stem from a humble but historic meeting of a small group of Tribal leaders in December 1985.

At that initial meeting, leaders from the Seminole Tribe of Florida hosted leaders from the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan, the Kickapoo Tribe of Kansas, the Tulalip Tribes in Washington State, the Rumsey Rancheria in California, and the Ho-Chunk Tribe of Wisconsin. Included in that group was Stevens’ uncle, the late Oneida Chairman Purcell Powless, who also served as NIGA’s first Vice-Chairman.

Together, they formed a united voice for Indian Country to counter the growing attacks on Indian gaming in the federal courts and in Congress, and NIGA has played a role in every major Indian gaming decision and

fight that has ensued over the last three and a half decades.

Almost immediately after NIGA’s formation, the organization helped prepare Indian Country for the legal battle that concluded in the historic Supreme Court case of California v. Cabazon Band of Mission Indians, which affirmed the inherent sovereign rights of Indian Tribes to conduct gaming on their lands to rebuild their communities without interference from the states.

In the aftermath of the Cabazon decision, states and commercial gaming interests pressed harder in Congress to overturn the decision, and once again, NIGA stood strong to defend Tribal sovereignty.

NIGA worked with champions of Indian Country on Capitol Hill, like Senators Daniel Inouye and John McCain, as well as Representatives Mo Udall and Ben Nighthorse Campbell, to ensure that the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) reflected and protected Tribal sovereignty and self-determination. For 31 years, NIGA has worked tirelessly to hold the Act to its core goals: promoting Tribal economic development and self-sufficiency, strengthening Tribal governments, and protecting the integrity of Indian gaming operations nationwide.

“Our priority is to see things from a policy standpoint, so that we can hopefully not have to react too much,” Stevens said.

“Mostly, we’d like to be proactive in telling our story and sharing our message, and we have a great team in Washington [D.C.]. My top folks are Native lawyers, so they kind of lead the charge and know the ins and outs.”

“We work as a team, but it’s a good team to be on,” he said.

“The dedication he has as Chairman is just amazing,” said Cheryl Stevens, his wife of 37 years. “I stand back and I watch his interaction, and he’s really sincere with everything that he does and he says. We know his demands out there across the country. Even

if it’s just for a grand opening for a small casino someplace, when he walks in the door the reaction he gets is outstanding that he was there for their opening, wherever it may be.”

“We’re pretty excited about where we are today,” he said. “We have amazing successes, but a lot of challenges still out there. So we hit the ground running and we get right back to work.”

One of the greatest rewards of being so steeped in gaming, Stevens says, is seeing the impacts that it’s had on various Tribes.

In his own community, where he once had to fight for space at the only gym as a teenager, there are now several gym facilities that teenagers and others can use. There’s also a state-of-the-art elementary school, a high school, a fitness center, and a social service building.

“There’s so many things,” he said. “We’re not rich, and the money’s not just falling out of the sky, but we have to use our marketing skills, our business skills, and our legal skills so that we can continue to move forward. And that’s what my uncle Percy was always about.”

“His idea was that we need to protect what we have and build what we have right here in the heart of our community,” Stevens added. “And I think that applies across the country.”

“When it’s all done, it’s not really anything about me,” he said. “It’s watching that it’s commonplace now in Indian Country to go to college. It’s commonplace to see non-traditional students go to a Tribal college or local university. It’s commonplace now to see a person who is engaged in business and consulting and enterprise with and beyond gaming. Those are the real rewards that we all really reap.”

But his greatest reward, Stevens says, in →

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“The dedication he has as

Chairman is just amazing,”

said Cheryl Stevens, his wife

of 37 years. “I stand back and I watch his interaction, and he’s

really sincere with everything that he does and he says. We

know his demands out there

addition to being able to serve Tribal governments, is being able to go home to his wife and his 17 grandchildren.

“Probably my best and most exciting social experience is when my wife makes me take her to the movies,” he said. “I get to watch her eat popcorn and watch whatever show she likes to watch. That’s really one of my greatest rewards.”

"As soon as he gets off the plane, I say, 'let's go see a movie,'" Mrs. Stevens said. “I’ll sit down to watch my favorite part, which is the previews, and he’ll bring popcorn, and then he might doze off, which is fine with

Advancing EQUITY in Energy

me, because I know what he’s just been through.”

“That’s just our time together, and it rejuvenates him, and that’s what he needs,” she said. “You can’t just do a job like this and keep going and going and going and not get that recharge from your family, and that’s what he does.”

“But I’ll support him as long as he goes,” she said. “If he wants to go two more years, that’s fine. If he wants to go 10 more years, I’ll be here. His family will be here to support him.”

THE HONORABLE JAMES E. CAMPOS SAYS OPPORTUNITY EXISTS FOR ALL MINORITY GROUPS AT THE DOE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC IMPACT AND DIVERSITY — PARTICULARLY FOR NATIVE AMERICANS.

T

across the country. Even if

reaction he gets is outstanding that he was there for their

opening, wherever it may be.”

Chairman Stevens addressing participants at the Global Gaming Expo

THE OF

In 2001, approximately 200 Tribal governments were involved in Indian gaming, generating just under $10 billion in gross revenue and offering new opportunities for employment that many had never seen before.

2001

$10

BILLION

2018

$39 BILLION

In 2018, the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) reported that 241 Indian Tribes engaged in Indian Gaming, generating $33.7 billion in gross gaming revenue – a 4.1 percent increase over 2017. When adding in the $5.3 billion generated from ancillary revenues (hotels, restaurants, and other nearby entities), Indian gaming generated a total of $39 billion in 2018 alone.

NIGA Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr. and his wife, Cheryl Stevens

IN THE 31 YEARS SINCE CONGRESS ENACTED IGRA, INDIAN GAMING HAS STEADILY AND RESPONSIBLY GROWN TO PROVIDE A CONSISTENT SOURCE OF GOVERNMENTAL REVENUE FOR INDIAN TRIBES NATIONWIDE.

767,000 JOBS Additionally, in 2018, Indian gaming generated 308,000 direct jobs, as well as an additional 458,000 indirect jobs for American families in 28 states. This is a total of just under 767,000 good-paying jobs.

Today, gaming continues to make advances.

Several Native Nations are now managing international gaming resorts with operations in Europe, Asia and South America. Additionally, with the legalization of sports betting, many Tribes are carefully weighing whether and how they approach the issue, with some Tribes already operating sportsbooks as part of their gaming operations.

PHOTO COURTESY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, OFFICE OF ECONOMIC IMPACT AND DIVERSITY

when he walks in the door the

PHOTOS COURTESY ERNIE STEVENS, JR.

for a small casino someplace,

STEM Enhancement STEM enhancement is a critical anchor of the Equity in Energy movement, Campos emphasized. The United States will need approximately 1 million more college graduates with STEM training by 2022 than the nation is currently on track to produce.

“This is an area in which Native Americans play a large part with helping us fill those positions, but also it's an opportunity where there's very good jobs and opportunity to grow within energy,” Campos said.

“Energy is our new economy, it is our new currency, and Native Americans play a large part in this equation,” Campos emphasized.

Above: The Honorable James E. Campos

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Workforce Development The Office of Economic Impact and Diversity has a Congressional mandate to interact and work with all of the DOE’s 22 offices, and every DOE office will participate in Equity in Energy. Opportunities abound from fossil energy to electric, nuclear, renewables, etc. Campos’ office is tasked with communicating those opportunities, particularly as it relates to workforce development. “We’re leading conversations around opportunity and how that interplays with Native American land and labor,” he said.

Supplier Diversity Supplier diversity is another core focus of the Equity in Energy initiative. Campos pointed to the purchasing power of the 17 national labs across the country. “Many of these national labs are located near Tribal lands and areas home to large Native American populations,” said Campos, pointing to Sandia National Laboratories, which spends about $1 billion each year on purchases of products and services to meet its national security missions.

Within the supplier diversity pillar, the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity hosts Minority Business Industry Day, which connects diverse businesses to the energy sector including national labs.

Technical Assistance Technical Assistance is a vital next step. “Technical assistance can either be in supplier

diversity opportunities, procurement opportunities, or opportunities within the workforce,” Campos said. “Across the board for minority groups, there’s a lack of technical assistance to assist in a transition into those opportunities.” The Office of Economic Impact and Diversity is committed to changing that.

Interest & Access Campos is working to raise the visibility of the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity. “We have to make aware that this office exists. It exists for this country, it exists for our future sustainability and the viability of energy in the United States,” he said.

Evidence of his commitment to raise the profile of the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity is Campos’ participation in the 2nd Annual Native Business Summit, taking place September 1-3, 2020, at the Hard Rock Hotel Resort and Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “That is very important to be there with Gary [Davis] and to be able to showcase what we're doing with Equity in Energy, and how we're here to assist Native American communities. It's one of my priorities,” Campos said.

The best partnership with his office is a symbiotic relationship, added Campos, suggesting that more Tribes and organizations invite his office to speak to their communities.

Campos concluded his conversation with Native Business with a reminder that the benefits of entering the energy economy extend well beyond today. It supports energy dominance, energy sustainability and energy viability for generations to come. “We all have to be in this together,” Campos said. “This is our nation. This is for our children and their children and so forth.”

“Energy is our new economy, it is our new currency, and Native Americans play a large part in this equation,” Campos said.

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PHOTO COURTESY NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES

it’s just for a grand opening

he Honorable James E. Campos, nominated by ­­­­the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate on April 9, 2018, as Director of the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity at the United States Department of Energy (DOE), is determined to increase outreach and communication with all minority groups concerning opportunities in energy.

It’s not just the right thing to do, it's critical to national security, he said, and Native Americans are essential to that.

“They make up 2-3% of our population, but it's much larger in terms of energy output and capacity,” Campos told Native Business.

Campos established the Equity in EnergyTM initiative to expand the participation of individuals from underserved communities in the energy sector. Equity in Energy also seeks to infuse and expand participation in the private energy sectors in the U.S. economy to ensure America’s energy independence.

Campos recently spoke with Native Business about the five pillars that support Equity in Energy: STEM Enhancement, Workforce Development, Supplier Diversity, Technical Assistance, and Interest & Access.

On September 24, 2019, Campos hosted the firstever Equity in Energy Tribal Stakeholder Discussion, “Opportunities, Challenges and Strategies to Reduce Disparities within the Energy Sector,” at the National Tribal Energy Summit in Washington, D.C.

Stearns Bank's corporate headquarters, located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota.

STEARNS BANK SERVES RURAL AMERICA AND

GETS THE JOB DONE

During the last Great Recession, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) asked Stearns Bank to consider acquiring some banks that had failed. Ultimately, Stearns Bank acquired nine different banks in Georgia, Florida, Arizona and Minnesota from 2009-2012, performing 10 asset acquisitions.

“During that time, we acquired a little over a billion and a half of assets and deposits,” Skalicky said. “So it was a very intense time for us as an organization — and going into those communities and making

"We understand small communities," Skalicky said. "We understand how important banks are and access to financing is for these small communities."

sure that the communities and the personnel knew we were there to stay.”

That’s why Kelly Skalicky joined Stearns Bank full-time as general counsel in 2012 — to turn those banks around. Prior to that, while serving as legal counsel to Stearns Bank for 20 years, she practiced Indian law with Gover, Stetson & Williams.

“We did a lot of work with Pueblos and various Tribes, their corporate governance, and their Tribal entities,” Skalicky said.

“Given my background in Tribal law and practicing, I understand the diversity of needs and resources available to Tribes and Tribal members,” Skalicky added.

Now as President and CEO, she views her job as managing risk to ensure Stearns Bank is in the right position to take advantage of opportunities.

Among those opportunities is leveraging the great equalizers today for her clients to pursue rural economic development: technology and renewable energy.

“Small businesses can punch above their weight with the right technology; they can access so many more resources today than they used to,” Skalicky said.

Along those lines, Stearns Bank has invested in the most advanced mobile banking services for its 33,000 customers nationwide. “People are much more mobile now. Those that are in rural communities have to have equal access to the most advanced services,” Skalicky said.

Skalicky also sees renewable energy as the next frontier — and Stearns Bank can help finance that. “With renewable energy, there are state mandates. Every utility is now mandated to let the renewable sources plug into the grid,” Skalicky said.

Whether it be wind towers or solar, the common denominator is real estate. “You really need some space around you. Rural America, they’ve got that advantage,” Skalicky said.

Above: Kelly Skalicky, President and CEO of Stearns Bank

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“We see it, and we understand it,” Skalicky added. “It’s a niche that we can really relate to, and service people who are interested in that.”

Stearns Bank works directly with Tribes, Tribal entities and Tribal member-owned small businesses both on- and off-reservation, and is adept at providing customized finance solutions.

Customized Finance Solutions Stearns Bank performs a wide variety of lending, including a large amount of small-ticket equipment finance. “This year, for example, we've done over 10,000 equipment finance deals at an average ticket size of $50,000. It can be from a

trailer to a skid steer to medical healthcare. Equipment finance is something that we do all over the nation,” Skalicky said.

While $50,000 is the average equipment finance loan size, Stearns Bank has facilitated equipment finance deals up to $2 million each.

“Under the U.S. Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (USDA), you could either do that as a BIA - IEED (Bureau of Indian Affairs - Indian Energy & Economic Development) loan, or you could do it under the USDA Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program,” Skalicky advised.

Stearns Bank is also well-versed in fi-

Persistence The road to success is not always an easy one.

At Stearns Bank, we’ll travel that journey with you, guiding and supporting your banking needs. You don’t stop until the job is done.

And neither do we.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF STEARNS BANK

S

tearns Banks has a long-standing reputation as one of the top performing banks in the nation.

The rural Minnesota-based bank with $2.2 billion in assets is one of the top 15 most active U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) lenders, and among the top 50 leading banks for equipment finance.

“If we had one secret, it's our people,” said Kelly Skalicky, President and CEO. Stearns Bank, which counts about 585 employees, is 20% employee owned.

“That's why we pick up on the first ring.

That's why we have employees that are 10, 15, 20-year tenured with all of that experience that ultimately benefits the customer,” Skalicky said.

Skalicky has been instrumental in instilling that company culture, while spearheading Stearns Bank’s considerable growth.

Two years ago, Kelly Skalicky succeeded her father Norm Skalicky as President and CEO of Stearns Bank. Norm, who remains chairman, led the St. Cloud-based bank since 1964, when he and his wife purchased the bank founded in 1912.

For Kelly, growing up, bank loans and refinancing were dinner table conversation.

Years later, she would earn her law degree and provide legal counsel to Stearns Bank for more than 20 years, before coming on board as general counsel for 6 years, and ultimately being named President and CEO of the family business.

“We are in central Minnesota. The little farming town I grew up in was home to about 1,500 people. We've never moved our headquarters,” Skalicky told Native Business. “We're stayed in central Minnesota and expanded our business nationwide. We understand small communities; we understand how important banks are and access to financing is for these small communities.”

nance restructuring. “We recently did a restructure of financing for a Tribe out west, where they separated their Tribal debt from their casino debt and restructured both,” Skalicky shared.

Across Indian Country, Stearns Bank frequently performs low-income historic housing financing, and can help Tribes facilitate the process of leveraging New Market Tax Credit financing while working hand-in-hand with Stearns and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs).

Additionally, Stearns Bank handles SBA loans nationwide — for small business owners, averaging a little over $300,000, to commercial deals for anything from construction to refinance, ranging from a half a million dollars up to $15 million.

“What we do really well is anything that is really time-sensitive,” Skalicky emphasized. “Because we've been doing construction lending across the nation for over 20 years, we've got a really experienced construction loan department.”

And that’s why Stearns Bank’s motto is We get the job done. “We can move fast, make decisions fast, and get it done,” Skalicky said.

Visit StearnsBank.com/Native-American or call us today to learn more: 800-247-1922

| StearnsBank.com | Member FDIC NOV EMBER /D EC EM BER 2019

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Native Business Celebrates

The Greatest Success Stories of 2019

By Carmen Davis, Executive Editor

The end of a year invites the opportunity to commemorate successes and to acknowledge progress. And 2019 has yielded many noteworthy successes for Tribes and Native entrepreneurs.

In “The Greatest Success Stories of 2019,” we highlight legal victories that uphold Tribal sovereignty, we celebrate milestones in Tribal healthcare and education, we recognize progress in energy development on Tribal lands, we honor powerful partnerships between Tribes and National Football League franchises, we recount the numerous Tribal casinos that debuted sportsbooks this year, and we shine a light on Nooksack artist and entrepreneur Louie Gong, who sold his Seattle-based business Eighth

Generation to the Snoqualmie Tribe.

Our highlight list reflects only a fraction of the success achieved across Indian Country in 2019. Fortunately NativeBusinessMag.com and the Native Business Mobile App record every significant stride in business in Indian Country, and we often take stock of the little wins along the way.

Before we turn the page to a new decade, let’s herald how far Indian Country has come in 2019…

Continued on page 20

→

Sponsored Content

Unlocking the Economic Potential for Native American Tribes W

hile tribal councils and economic development corporations (EDCs) continue to receive an onslaught of investment proposals, evaluating them remains a challenge.

Making investment choices that will diversify your Tribe’s holdings and deliver sustained returns begins with creating a strong framework for decision-making, including: • A sound strategic plan, with defined goals and timeframes • A governance structure with clear channels for communication • Criteria for partners to ensure positive outcomes for your members

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• A network of trusted referrers including bank representatives, attorneys, and financial advisors As your Tribal EDC’s investment evaluation structure becomes more sophisticated, it will begin to proactively seek out deals.

When one has been selected, you should work closely with financial advisors and lenders to take advantage of all the unique financing types and tax advantages, and start with the most conservative financing solutions.

Tribes and investors can also benefit from Tribal Economic Development Bonds, which can be used to obtain tax-exempt financing for commercial projects (including hotels, entertainment venues, golf courses, etc.), as long as they are located on Indian Tribal land and are structurally independent of a gaming facility.

However time is of the essence. As the program is nearly 10 years old, the volume cap is dwindling, and there are no assurances any new funds will become available.

KeyBank Native American Financial Services One of the first financial institutions to create dedicated teams serving Native American entities, KeyBank’s Native American Financial Services works with over 70 Tribes and Corporations. We understand the complexities each Nation faces and can develop customized solutions, including in gaming and non-gaming economic development, natural resources and energy, infrastructure, and agriculture.

For more information, contact: William “Mike” Lettig: 425-709-4503 william_m_lettig@keybank.com Geoff A. Urbina: 206-684-6259 geoff.urbina@key.com

Securities products and services such as investment banking and capital raising are offered by KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Banking products are offered by KeyBank National Association. | Securities products and services: Not FDIC Insured • No Bank Guarantee • May Lose Value This document is designed to provide general information only and is not comprehensive nor is it tax or legal advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the service of a competentNOV professional should/D be sought.

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On March 19, 2019, a six-year stand-off between a Yakama member-owned gas station and the Washington Department of Licensing came to an end. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to uphold a Washington State court ruling. Cougar Den is exempt from paying tax on fuel it transports on public highways in Washington State under the Yakama Treaty of 1855.

If the Supreme Court had ruled against Cougar Den, the White Swan, Washington-based gas station would have owed millions to the state in back taxes. In 2013, Washington assessed Cougar Den owed $3.6 million in taxes, penalties and licensing fees for importing wholesale gasoline from Oregon to the Tribe’s reservation in Washington.

Cougar Den argued that the Washington State tax is preempted by the “right to travel” provision in its Treaty of 1855, which allows Tribal members to travel freely on public highways and transport goods across state lines without taxation. That’s a right the Tribe fought for when it ceded 12 million acres of Tribal lands — a swath of land greater than the size of Maryland.

“We gave up the vastness of that land base for the reserved rights in order to, in this case, conduct trade and our commerce,” Yakama Tribal Chairman JoDe Goudy said.

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RIGHT: PHOTO BY TOM STROMME/THE BISMARK TRIBUNE AND LICENSED VIA AP

Supreme Court Rules Yakama Gas Station Exempt FromWashington State Fuel Tax, Upholds 1855 Treaty

Go Big & Go Home

Cherokee Nation is leading the way in world-class healthcare with the debut of the largest Tribal outpatient health center & the first medical school in Indian Country

“O

North Dakota Governor Signs Bill Ratifying Historic Oil TaxSharing Compact With MHA Nation Gov. Doug Burgum signed legislation on March 28, 2019, that ratifies the historic compact he signed in February with Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara (MHA) Nation Chairman Mark Fox to change how the state and Tribe share tax revenue Mark Fox, Chairman of from new oil and gas activity on trust the Mandan, Hidatsa, and and fee lands.

Arikara (MHA) Nation Under the ratified compact, the former 50-50 tax revenue split changed, so that the Tribe now receives 80 percent of the production and extraction tax revenue from new wells on Tribal trust lands, and the state receives 20 percent of the revenue. On fee land, 80 percent of the revenue goes to the state, and 20 percent to the Tribe.

The MHA Nation’s Fort Berthold Indian Reservation sits on the oil-rich Bakken shale formation, with the Three Forks beneath it. More than 2,000 wells dot the reservation, which accounts for roughly a fifth of North Dakota’s oil production. The Tribes will gain an additional $33 million in revenue over the next two-year budget cycle under the new legislation, the state Tax Department estimated.

“This historic legislation is the result of nearly two years of good-faith dialogue and collaboration between Tribal and legislative leaders, the Governor’s Office, industry representatives and the state tax department. Finalizing this agreement sends a clear signal that North Dakota supports a stable tax and regulatory environment, which will help us compete with shale oil plays in other states and help the Tribe address infrastructure needs and other priorities,” said Burgum, whose five strategic initiatives include strengthening Tribal partnerships. “We look forward to continued collaboration with all of the Tribal Nations in North Dakota based on mutual respect and understanding.”

PHOTOS COURTESY CHEROKEE NATION

In a highly anticipated and long-awaited ruling handed down on July 3rd, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Cir-

Shortly after the decision was issued, LVD Chairman James Williams, Jr. hailed the decision as a milestone not only for his Tribe, but for Native American sovereign rights in general.

“We could not be more pleased with the Fourth Circuit’s decision upholding our Tribe’s sovereignty and our Tribal businesses’ recognition as arms of the Tribe,” Williams said. “By reversing the District Court, the Fourth Circuit’s ruling is a major victory for Native American sovereign rights across all of Indian Country.”

“The decision also provides welcome clarity to the standards used to evaluate Tribal economic instrumentalities,” Chairman Williams added.

PHOTO BY LARRY MACDOUGAL VIA AP

Fourth Circuit Rules in Favor of Lac Vieux Desert, Determining That Lending Business Is an Arm of the Tribe Entitled to Sovereign Immunity

cuit affirmed that two companies owned by the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians are indeed legitimate arms of the Tribe, and as such, are entitled to Tribal sovereign immunity.

The ruling, which reversed an earlier order from the District Court and remanded it with instructions to grant the Tribe’s motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, represented a major win for the Tribe with implications that could echo across Indian Country. Since 2017, the Tribe has been involved in the litigation, which was filed by a group of five Virginia residents alleging that Tribal sovereignty did not apply to the Tribally owned businesses.

With the Cherokee Nation outpatient health center complete, the Tribe is expected to add 850 new healthcare-related jobs in the coming years, including 100 physicians.

PHOTO COURTESY LAC VIEUX DESERT BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA INDIANS

Lac Vieux Desert (LVD) Tribal Chairman James Williams, Jr. (center), members of the LVD Tribe, as well as its legal team, stand in front of the U.S. Courthouse in Richmond, Virginia, after oral arguments in the case that ultimately upheld the sovereign immunity of its Tribal business arms.

ur mission is excellence in healthcare and to do that you need the right infrastructure and people in place. These two historic, groundbreaking events — the opening of our largest-inthe-country healthcare facility for Native Americans and the first medical school in Indian Country — both speak to those two elements of excellence in healthcare,” Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. told Native Business.

On November 14, Cherokee Nation opened the doors to its 469,000-square-foot outpatient health facility, which counts 30 departments under one roof, including more than 240 exam rooms, two MRI machines, an ambulatory surgery center, 34 dental chairs, full service optometry and specialty health services.

“It's groundbreaking for the Cherokee Nation and really affects our entire health system, which is the largest Native American health system in the country,” Chief Hoskin said.

The milestone reflects the power of the historic joint-venture agreement reached between the Tribe and the Indian Health Service (IHS), in which Cherokee Nation invested $200 million in construction and equipment for the facility, and IHS is providing $100 million annually for staffing and operational costs.

Chief Hoskin underscored the unique ability of the Cherokee Nation “to be able to deliver, in a rural setting, world-class healthcare and state-of-the-art facilities.” While this approach has succeeded elsewhere in

Indian Country, Chief Hoskin conceded, “I tive care. He added that his hope is to “inthink, at this scale, it's unprecedented.” spire some young Cherokees to look toward The Nation achieved yet another breaka medical field” as well. through for Tribal healthcare in 2019 with In addition to meeting the expectations the May 20 groundbreaking on the very of Cherokee citizens in terms of healthcare first medical school in Indian Country. The delivery, the Nation’s substantial investcollege at W.W. Hastings Hospital in Tahlements in healthcare are making a positive quah, Oklahoma, created through a partnereconomic impact through job creation and ship with Oklahoma State University (OSU), carving inroads to train and retain doctors is scheduled to open with up to 50 students in rural Oklahoma. in 2020. It’s anticipated to serve 200 stu“The opportunity to inject that sort of dents when it becomes fully operational. economic vitality into the heart of the Cher“A challenge I think the entire country okee Nation means that there's going to be faces, though particularly Indian Country, is opportunities for our people — whether recruiting and retaining the best and brightthey want to be doctors or any number of est healthcare professionals, most notably fields — they'll be those opportunities close doctors,” Chief Hoskin told Native Business. to home, to serve their people in what is, I “This is going to mean a pipeline of docthink, a great cause,” Chief Hoskin contintors — that is presently insufficient — will ued, “the cause of helping your fellow Cherincrease. In the years ahead and in the genokee live a healthier life.” eration ahead, we will be in a better position to staff these facilities with doctors.”

Chief Hoskin added that the Nation knows, statistically, “that a doctor will practice within about 100 miles of where she goes to medical school,” he said. “So if we place it in Tahlequah, as we've done, we've given the entire region an opportunity to have this new crop of doctors.”

Chief Hoskin noted that students will be “immersed in Cherokee life,” and the school will create pathways Chief Hoskin hopes the opening of the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine at Cherokee Nation will inspire for medical students to learn tradiyoung Cherokees to pursue careers in the medical field. tional disciplines as well as gain an understanding of culturally sensiNOV EMBER /D EC EM BER 2019

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This solar array footprint on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation is 300 feet by 20 feet.

Tribal Casinos Nationwide

Golden

PHOTO COURTESY CACHE CREEK CASINO RESORT

Opportunity:

Tribes Turn to the Sun to Create a New Energy Economy

Jicarilla Apache Reservation to Help City of Albuquerque Reach its Target of 100% Renewable Energy by 2025 While oil and gas has been the backbone of the Jicarilla Apache Nation’s economy, the Tribe announced in 2019 that it is moving forward with a $220 million solar initiative through a partnership with the City of Albuquerque and utility provider, Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM).

Hecate Energy, a Chicago-based developer, will build the 500-acre solar-power lot forecasted to go online in the fourth quarter of 2021.

The City of Albuquerque has committed to buying 25 megawatts produced by the solar farm each year for 15 years — which will meet about 54 percent of the city’s electricity needs.

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller has stated that the city, home to 560,000 people, will reach its clean energy goals within the next five years, well ahead of the state’s 100% mandate by 2045.

Moapa River Indian Reservation Successfully Ventures Into Utility-Scale Solar The Moapa Band of Paiutes paved the pathway for Tribal utility-scale solar with a 250 MW installation that supplies power directly to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

The Nevada-based Tribe is currently moving forward with the development of two new solar farms, at 200 MW and 300 MW — enough to power 180,000 homes. The Tribe has even secured a prominent customer: NV Energy Inc., the utility owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.

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Navajo Nation Prioritizes Renewable Energy Development The current Navajo Nation Administration is following through on its “Navajo Háyoołkááł (Sunrise) Proclamation,” a commitment to pursue and prioritize renewable energy development for the long-term benefit of the Navajo people.

President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer are fulfilling the Nation’s priority to complete development of its 660-acre solar farm in New Mexico, the Paragon Bitsi Ranch solar development project in the Navajo community of Huerfano.

The Nation additionally recently completed the second phase of construction of its Kayenta Solar generation facility in Arizona, a renewable energy plant that now produces enough emission-free energy to power approximately 36,000 homes.

Born of Fire: Spokane Tribe Grows its Children of the Sun Solar Initiative The second largest fire in Washington state in summer 2016 ravaged the Spokane Indian Reservation, damaging 14 Tribal homes and displacing nearly 50 people.

But the devastating incident has inspired a new vision for sustainable energy independence.

In May, the Spokane Tribe of Indians brought together Tribal leaders and project partners to celebrate the Children of the Sun Solar Initiative (COSSI) — boasting 650 kilowatts of solar capacity, and eventually, battery storage. The renewable energy source will save the Tribe $2.8 million over 35 years, in addition to forging new economic opportunity and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Trapping the Sun on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) named its new array Ántukš-Tińqapapt, meaning “sun trap.” Ántukš (on-took-sh) comes from the Umatilla Language and Tińqapapt (tin-cop-popped) is Cayuse.

“We gave a culturally relevant name to the solar system to bridge the gap between traditional, cultural values of the Tribe and newer technology,” Patrick Mills, scientist and project management professional for the CTUIR, told Native Business.

Mills speculates that in 10 years’ time, several more community-scale solar projects will dot the reservation, and the Tribes will pursue energy efficiency to a greater extent, working it into all future building and construction projects.

PHOTO COURTESY CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE UMATILLA INDIAN RESERVATION

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ozens of new solar projects are sprouting up on Native lands across the U.S. as Tribes seek new ways to grow and diversify their economies in sustainable ways that advance sovereignty and power their governments and businesses.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that there are around 61 gigawatts of solar potential on Tribal lands representing approximately $70 billion in investment.

Native Business spotlights several of the most ambitious solar initiatives taking root in Indian Country:

Cache Creek Casino Resort and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation inked a partnership with the San Francisco 49ers.

Partner With NFL Teams

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he Dallas Cowboys and the Chickasaw Nation-owned WinStar World Casino and Resort announced their partnership, the first of its kind for a National Football League (NFL) franchise and casino, in September 2018. The Cowboys were the first NFL team to flex the league’s recently relaxed stance on NFL team associations with gaming operators.

Under the terms of the new rules, NFL clubs can accept advertising money from casinos, and they can cross-promote their brands. The parties can use one another’s brand logos in advertising, and stadiums are able to accept casinos as naming rights partners. But advertising sports betting operations remains prohibited.

Since the Cowboys and WinStar blazed the trail forward, many more Tribally owned casinos and NFL teams have followed suit, inking mutually beneficial partnerships.

Among the most notable two-way agreements of 2019 include:

Green Bay Packers + Oneida Casino Oneida Casino was named the official casino of the Green Bay Packers in August 2019, enhancing their 20-year collaboration and partnership since 2002 that includes the Oneida Nation Gate on the east side of Lambeau Field. “As two strong Northeastern Wisconsin organizations, the Packers and Oneida Nation have a long history of working together,” said Craig Benzel, Packers vice president of sales and business development.

Las Vegas Raiders + San Manuel Casino In October, the NFL Raiders franchise partnered with San Manuel Casino on its Allegiant Stadium currently under construction in Las Vegas. San Manuel Casino is now a founding partner of the stadium and a sponsor of the team for the 2020 football season. The Highland, California-based casino is a roughly 60-minute drive from Las Vegas, where Allegiant Stadium is currently rising from the ground on I-15.

San Francisco 49ers + Cache Creek Casino Resort Cache Creek Casino Resort and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation have teamed up with the San Francisco 49ers. The Tribal casino inked a multi-year deal that includes presenting sponsorship of the 49ers pre- and post-game radio show on KNBR 680AM and throughout the 49ers Radio Network.

“The San Francisco 49ers are an elite, legacy-minded organization, with a storied record of success at the highest levels,” said Kari Stout-Smith, Cache Creek General Manager and COO. “Our brands have been aligned in similar ways for many decades.”

Arizona Cardinals + Gila River Hotels & Casinos Advertisements for Gila River Hotels & Casino now appear beside those of major corporate brands at State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals. The NFL team has named Gila River Hotels & Casinos — including Wild Horse Pass, Lone Butte and Vee Quiva — as its official hotel and casino partner. “It definitely helps put us on the map,” Kenneth Manuel, CEO of Gila River Hotels & Casinos, told Native Business.

“When I look at our partnership, I look at it from a couple of different perspectives — one, from the business perspective, and two, from the community perspective. Beyond brand recognition, the partnership benefits Gila River youth. For instance, the Arizona Cardinals host four youth football clinics each year for children in the Community.

Buffalo Bills + Seneca Resorts & Casinos Seneca Resorts & Casinos is now the official casino of the Buffalo Bills. The exclusive partnership extends to the newly-branded Seneca Studios at One Bills Drive, the home of One Bills Live and The Instigators, simulcast weekdays on WGR 550 and MSG. “Seneca Resorts & Casinos always strives to elevate our guest experience and this partnership brings even more opportunities for play both on and off the field. This is a collaboration of great teams coming together!”

said Melissa Free, Sr. Vice President of Marketing/CMO, Seneca Gaming Corporation.

Carolina Panthers + Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos In November, Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos and the NFL Carolina Panthers entered a five-year agreement, making Harrah’s the team’s official sponsor. The Tribal casino gets the naming rights to Champions Village, the Panther’s pregame hospitality venue, now dubbed Harrah’s Cherokee Champions Village. The casino will also sponsor the 5th Quarter post-game fan watch party.

Seattle Seahawks + Muckleshoot Indian Tribe The Seattle Seahawks have inked a 10year partnership with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe. The former CenturyLink Field’s North Plaza is being renamed Muckleshoot Plaza, and cultural elements such as artwork showcasing the Tribe’s rich history will be on display at stadium events. On Seahawks gamedays, fans can enjoy annual Tribal dance performances. Tribal representatives hosted Seahawks executives, along with Legend Walter Jones and team mascot Blitz, in Auburn, Washington, on November 1st for a special celebration event at the Muckleshoot Tribal Offices.

Gila River youth play a game of flag football under the lights of State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals, on August 8th.

PHOTO BY KYLE KNOX/GRIN

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llegal sports wagering in the United States totals $150 billion annually, according to estimates from the American Gaming Association. Several Tribal casinos across the nation debuted sportsbooks in 2019, accessing a substantial piece of that revenue.

The movement of Tribes entering the sports wagering market is expected to continue as more than 30 states across the U.S. have either legalized sports betting or are currently considering it after the U.S. Supreme Court, in May 2018, overturned the 1992 federal law — the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. While the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians lead the way, becoming the first Tribal casino to offer sports betting outside of Nevada, at its Pearl River Resort Casino on August 30, 2018, numerous Tribes have followed in its wake. The Tamaya Nation at Pueblo of Santa Ana also initiated the wave of Tribal casinos opening sportsbooks in New Mexico, ahead of the state legalizing it, on October 16, 2018, at its Santa Ana Star Casino and Hotel in Bernalillo. In 2019, at least four more sportsbooks went live at Tribally owned casinos in New Mexico.

Below is a roundup of a few Tribal casinos that launched sportsbooks this year.

Thunder Race Book

The Pueblo of Pojoaque-owned Buffalo Thunder Casino and Resort in Santa Fe launched New Mexico’s second sports betting operation in March. Thunder Race Book made the Pueblo of Pojoaque the first Tribe to offer sports betting in addition to wagering on races.

The Sportsbook at the Inn

Patrons of the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino in New Mexico can place wagers on professional sports, while watching games play on twelve 43-inch television screens. The Mescalero Apache Tribe tapped the U.S. arm of William Hill, a bet-

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Eighth Generation Sells to Snoqualmie Tribe in Unprecedented Business Move

Current President of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, Arthur “Butch” Blazer, UFC fighter Holly Holm and President-elect Gabe Aguilar cast the first bets at the sportsbook at the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino in Mescalero, New Mexico, on July 25.

ting and gaming company founded in 1934 in the UK, to launch its sportsbook in July 2019, ahead of the NFL season. This marked William Hill’s first Tribal agreement outside of Nevada.

The Lounge with Caesars Sports

The Oneida Indian Nation launched three sportsbooks this year through a partnership with Caesars Entertainment. After debuting The Lounge with Caesars Sports at Turning Stone Resort Casino and Point Place Casino in New York on August 1, the Tribe opened its third sportsbook and the largest sportsbook in the state at nearly 9,000-square feet: The Lounge with Caesars Sports at Yellow Brick Road Casino, designed to accommodate more than 250 sports fans. The third sportsbook venue started taking bets in September, just in time for the NFL season opener.

Chinook Winds Casino Sports Wagering Lounge

Visitors started placing an array of bets on professional and collegiate sports on August 27th at Chinook Winds Casino Sports Wagering Lounge — Oregon’s first sportsbook. While the Oregon Lottery has launched Scoreboard, a sports betting app, the Siletz Tribe-owned Chinook Winds offers betting on collegiate sports. The lottery app does not include NCAA betting.

The Book

Route 66 Casino Hotel, owned by the Pueblo of Laguna and Laguna Development Corporation, started full-service sports betting at The Book in September. The 13,000-square-foot space features 74 televisions and a bar and grill. The project cost $3.4 million to complete.

Saracen Casino Annex

While the Quapaw Nation doesn’t offer sports betting at its casinos in Oklahoma, patrons can place bets on sporting events at its Saracen Casino Annex in Pine Bluff,

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Arkansas. On September 30th, the Arkansas Racing Commission approved sports betting at Saracen Casino Resort, and by October 1st at 8 a.m., the casino annex — a smaller version of the forthcoming $350 million Saracen Casino Resort — was taking wagers.

Unibet Sportsbook

The Unibet Sportsbook at Mohegan Sun Pocono soft-launched in September, becoming the 11th Pennsylvania retail sportsbook to open. More than $2 million was wagered in sports bets at the venue owned by the Mohegan Tribe in October, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

The sportsbook retained $305,697 in sports wagering revenue that month after paying out winners. In December, the casino launched online sports betting across Pennsylvania, accessible on mobile apps found at pa.unibet.com and on mohegansunpocono. com. Mohegan Sun Pocono’s expansion into the digital market stands to up-level its audience significantly. To put things into perspective, across Pennsylvania, mobile sports betting accounted for more than 82% of all wagers placed in October. A total of 7 online sports wagering sites and 12 retail sportsbooks exist in the state.

Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee congratulates Louie Gong at the November 25th ceremony announcing the Snoqualmie Tribe’s purchase of Eighth Generation.

The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe’s purchase of Eighth Generation will elevate the business from “an iconic Native American brand to an iconic American brand,” said Louie Gong, the acclaimed Nooksack artist and entrepreneur who founded Seattle-based Eighth Generation.

The Tribe finalized the acquisition on November 8, and announced the purchase at an event with Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee and Tribal representatives at Eighth Generation’s flagship store in Pike Place Market on Monday, November 25, the week of Thanksgiving.

The price tag was not disclosed — though Gong acknowledged that the deal is unprecedented for a Native art entrepreneur.

With the change in ownership, Gong remains committed to Eighth Generation for the long haul. “I have a multi-year commitment to act as CEO of Eighth Generation,”

he told Native Business.

The purchase not only creates opportunity for Eighth Generation to expand its distribution, market penetration and visibility, it also empowers the Snoqualmie Tribe’s commitment to protect its culture and promote Indigenous artists.

“This is another values-driven investment for the Snoqualmie Tribe,” said the Tribe’s Chairman Robert de los Angeles.

The acquisition comes on the heels of the Snoqualmie Tribe’s early November purchase of Salish Lodge & Spa and acreage surrounding its sacred Snoqualmie Falls. “Every purchase made at Eighth Generation will support the mission of the Snoqualmie Tribe to safeguard sacred sites like Snoqualmie Falls and support the preservation of Native culture,” said Tribal Council Treasurer Christopher Castleberry.

Sports Book at Isleta Resort & Casino

Patrons can place bets on the professional leagues and collegiate teams (including the local ones) at the Sports Book at Isleta Resort & Casino in Albuquerque, New Mexico. While the Pueblo of Isleta-owned resort soft-opened its sportsbook in August through a temporary location on the casino floor, it was November 4th when the casino debuted its full-time sports betting facility — complete with 50 televisions, a lounge area, four betting kiosks, a full-service bar, and a new food court next door. The sportsbook, entertainment and food court buildout collectively cost $4.5 million.

PHOTO COURTESY INN OF THE MOUNTAIN GODS

Betting Market

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SNOQUALMIE TRIBE

Tribal Lucrative Casinos Enter the Sports

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Native Business

REPRESENTS INDIAN COUNTRY on the Corporate and Federal Stages

ative Business Founders and Publishers Gary and Carmen Davis are proud to expand awareness of Indian Country business and culture on a national platform.

Most recently, Gary Davis, a member of the Cherokee Nation and the Founder, Publisher and CEO of Native Business Magazine, delivered a keynote address during the inaugural Native American Heritage Month event for Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) at Naval Base Coronado South near San Diego, California, on November 13th. The event was broadcast to all NAVAIR bases across the country.

“What a blessing to be able to build bridges of understanding and assist in reclaiming the narrative for Indian Country,” Gary said.

After Gary delivered a motivational speech to thousands of NAVAIR employees at the naval base, Coronado Naval Base Executive Officer and Executive Director, Capt. Steven Leehe, facilitated a VIP tour of the base for Gary and Carmen Davis, a member of the Makah Tribe and the Founder, Publisher and Executive Editor of Native Business Magazine. The tour entailed a visit of the F-18 fighter jet production facility and an opportunity to view the actual F-18 fight-

Gary and Carmen Davis pose in front of the actual F-18 fighter jet that moviegoers will see flown by “Maverick” in the upcoming Top Gun: Maverick movie.

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er jet that moviegoers will see flown by “Maverick” in the upcoming Top Gun: Maverick movie.

NAVAIR provides the United States Navy with full life-cycle support of naval aviation aircraft, weapons and systems including research, design, development, systems engineering, acquisition, test & evaluation, training, logistics, repair & modification, and in-service support.

Gary and Carmen Davis additionally represented Indian Country at PNC Bank’s inaugural event celebrating Native American Heritage Month at their headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on November 7th.

The business partners’ fireside chat-style event was live-streamed company-wide and to two universities in Michigan.

“Thank you PNC Bank for recognizing the importance of including Indian Country in your diversity efforts and positively contributing to advancing opportunity for Native Americans across the country,” Carmen shared.

Left to right: Russell Liebetrau, Senior Vice President & Manager, Native American Gaming Group; Albert Richardson, Data Expert at PNC Bank; Carmen Davis; Tracy Boelman, Diversity and Inclusion Team Member at PNC Bank; and Gary Davis.

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Gary Davis delivered the keynote address at the inaugural Native American Heritage Month event for Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) at Naval Base Coronado South on November 13th.

PHOTOS COURTESY NATIVE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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Gary and Carmen Davis spoke about the power of “Reclaiming the Narrative” in Indian Country at a PNC Bank event on November 7th.

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In its design of the Indian Health Service’s Sioux San Hospital, Seven Generations A+E incorporated a skylight featuring the pattern of a Lakota star, oriented to the four directions.

MNO-BMADSEN LEVERAGES AN INNOVATIVE INVESTMENT STRATEGY,

Prioritizing that long-term commitment is a core element that keeps Mno-Bmadsen in alignment with the values of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians.

“It’s very important for us, not only on the purchase side, but certainly on the partnership side. And we certainly demand it

GROUNDED BY A ‘VERY LONG TIME HORIZON’

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firm would look at it. We seek a different kind of seller — either a legacy seller (somebody who is getting older and doesn’t have another generation to run the business), or someone who seeks to sell the business and it’s a tactical buy for us,” Martinez explained.

Mno-Bmadsen also purchases smaller businesses that private equity firms wouldn’t consider due to their size. “Some of those buys, we frequently have the previous owner stay on,” Martinez says.

And Mno-Bmadsen doesn’t operate the businesses it purchases. “We’re a pure investor,” Martinez clarifies, “so we either buy a company with existing management, or we can use our existing talent.”

Martinez brought a wealth of experience when he joined Mno-Bmadsen in May 2016.

He previously served as the financial officer for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde in Oregon, where he oversaw their large tradeable portfolio and substantial endowment accounts. Prior to that, for 20 years, starting in 1989, Martinez managed investments, Tribal holdings and trust accounts for the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida.

Under Martinez, Mno-Bmadsen has revised its investment plan, targeting specific sectors and expanding its foothold in others.

Its professional services sector includes a civil engineering firm as well as the award-winning Seven Generations Architecture and Engineering (A+E).

While Seven Generations A+E is a hallmark business under Mno-Bmadsen, the largest company in its portfolio is the sole business within its construction division: D.A. Dodd.

“It’s a large union, mechanical contracting company that does commercial and industrial HVAC construction and service,” Martinez said.

Mno-Bmadsen recently entered the real estate market through a partnership to re-

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SEVEN GENERATIONS A+E: BUILDING SUCCESS Julio Martinez, Mno-Bmadsen CFO

develop a historic hotel in Elk Heart, Indiana — a project underway and set to open in spring 2020.

“That’s our first partnership in commercial real estate and it [adheres to a] different philosophy; it’s a subset of alternative investments,” Martinez explained of how this differs from Mno-Bmadsen’s typical “buy, hold and grow” approach.

Tasked with handling all non-gaming investments on the Tribe, Mno-Bmadsen also manages the Pokagon Band’s C-store. “We don’t handle the Tribe’s tradeable portfolios, but we handle all private equity alternative class investments for the Tribe,” Martinez said.

Mno-Bmadsen’s $25 Million Goal Following “The Good Path” is certainly beneficial to the regional economy.

Mno-Bmadsen targets a $25 million cash flow by 2022.

“Now, there are a lot of variables that can affect that — like rate of investment and deal flow. We’re a young investment firm, in terms of assets under management,” Martinez shared.

Currently, Mno-Bmadsen counts $80 million in assets under management, double what it started with this year.

“Some of that cash flow can be reinvested in new businesses. Eventually there’s going to come a point where we’re going to want to return cash to the Tribe. We’re working on a dividend policy now. At some point in our growth, they are going to stop providing capital to us, and we’ll be able to return at least a portion of capital to the Tribe, and continue to fund investments with the cash flow from our existing businesses. That’s the long-term vision,” Martinez explained.

PHOTOS COURTESY POKAGON BAND OF POTAWATOMI INDIANS

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Potawatomi word, Mno-Bmadsen translates to “The Good Path.” It’s an apropos name for the non-gaming investment arm of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians.

Mno-Bmadsen makes investment decisions based on “a very long time horizon,” Julio Martinez, Mno-Bmadsen’s Chief Financial Officer, told Native Business. A seventh generation philosophy informs its strategy of buy, hold and grow.

As an instrumentality of the Tribe, Mno-Bmadsen is afforded the same rights and privileges as a sovereign Nation, yet it operates and makes investment decisions independent of the Tribe.

“We engaged in a charter within the Tribe that created Mno-Bmadsen,” Pokagon Band Chairman Matthew Wesaw explained of Mno-Bmadsen, launched in 2012 with the mandate to diversify the Pokagon Band's business interests, revenue streams and wealth for future generations.

“We did a charter so it would be politically free, so that the Tribe is not directly identifying what economic development options there might be. A seven-person board oversees Mno-Bmadsen’s direction and economic development opportunities. There is no overlap between the Tribal Council Board and Mno-Bmadsen,” Chairman Wesaw underscored.

This separation of church and state, if you will, provides substantial liberty to Mno-Bmadsen leadership.

The Pokagon Band functions as the investor, funding Mno-Bmadsen, which maintains four direct-investment portfolios: professional services, manufacturing services, construction services, and real estate investments and services. Across its businesses, Mno-Bmadsen employs 315 individuals in 13 locations throughout Michigan, Illinois and Indiana.

“With these portfolios, I’m not looking to buy a company to redo it and then sell it.

I’m looking to buy a company that’s going to add value and grow our existing portfolios. It’s different than how a private equity

within our companies, the way they conduct their business,” Martinez said.

“We act within those Pokagon teachings. We do business the right way.”

A U.S. Small Business Association 8(a) firm under the Mno-Bmadsen umbrella, Seven Generations Architecture + Engineering (A+E) has won nationwide contracts with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Indian Health Service.

Its growth — from $1 million in annual revenue in 2015 to close to $8 million in 2019 — is primarily fueled by the federal market, though the 8(a) and HUBZone-certified company has also won several statewide contracts in Michigan, with the General Services Administration and the Department of Veteran Affairs.

“We’ve had significant growth at Seven Generations A+E, so we’re looking to add talent there and expand geographically,” Martinez told Native Business of the company, launched in 2012.

The firm’s recent growth is significantly bolstered by its creative approach to healthcare design.

As the lead architect for Seven Generations A+E, Steven VandenBussche invites traditional spaces to exist inside Tribal health clinics. The result can radically enhance the visitor experience, and ultimately lead to healthier Native communities.

For instance, Seven Generations designed the Mille Lacs Band District 1 Health Clinic, a facility created to act as a “one stop shop” for members of the Mille Lacs Band Community. Treatments range from dental to radiology.

What sets it apart from your traditional health clinic? The project features a “500-foot curtain wall, two-stories tall, that looks over this large wetland area,” VandenBussche shared. In essence, the design invites the wilderness indoors. Seven Generations often relies on biophilic design — utilizing natural materials and embracing the natural elements.

The innovative firm was also contracted to design a 200,000-square-foot health clinic in the heart of the Sioux Nation in Rapid City, South Dakota. “We incorporated a skylight that had the pattern of a Lakota star, oriented to the four directions,” VandenBussche shared with Native Business.

For the Pokagon Health Services in Dowagiac, Michigan, Seven Generations A+E likewise incorporated spaces for traditional healing. “We built a space for a heating source, so they can burn sage, cedar and have traditional, ceremonial type healing experiences,” VandenBussche said.

Upon entering, visitors at the Pokagon facility are immediately greeted by Native art and music playing. “It’s relaxing,” Matt Clay, Executive Director of Health Services for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, told Native Business. “Hundreds of visitors have said, ‘This is amazing; this is really inviting.’”

Pokagon Health Services serves more than 2,200 people, of whom roughly 75% are Pokagon citizens to 25% non-Pokagon citizens. The Pokagon Band counts 5,700 citizens, to offer perspective. “We have patients from as far away as Alaska, Oklahoma and Texas,” Clay shared. “Any Native American can come here.”

Clay hailed Seven Generations’ follow-through on its design and construction. “I’m a pretty big numbers guy. It was an economically sound expansion — both ahead of schedule and under budget,” he said.

“Seven Generations A+E is very customer-service focused, which is something that is lacking in today’s society,” Clay added. “It’s unparalleled.

I’ve dealt with a lot of different A&E firms and contractors, and Seven Generations is there to help every step of the way.”

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This year, the more than 1,220-member Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana observed Paragon Casino Resort’s first quarter century anniversary.

Tunica-Biloxi Tribe Community Pride Day

“The most important title I cherish is being a servant to all.”

PHOTO COURTESY THE EHRHARDT GROUP

The Tunica-Biloxi Cultural and Educational Resources Center

TUNICA-BILOXI CHAIRMAN

MARSHALL PIERITE

now spans more than three decades.

From that first job as a contract medical clerk, Pierite’s career with the Tribe has included time serving as director of the Tunica-Biloxi Social Services Department, a Tribal Council member, secretary, treasurer, vice-chairman, and now chairman of the Tribe.

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CHERISHING THE PAST

AND BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

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At age 10, Pierite taught his mother how to read and write — an achievement that he still counts as one of his proudest moments.

“To her, reading and writing was everything, and that was something she was extremely proud of,” he said. “Both of my parents sacrificed everything they had to give all of us children a better life, and everything I do in life is really to honor them and cherish what they have taught us.”

Because of the value his mother placed on literacy, Pierite always dreamed of going to college. But after losing his mother at age 13 and his father at age 17, that dream quickly slipped away. Without the wherewithal to pursue higher education, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, which he says was a challenge itself.

“I was challenged to go into the Marine Corps by one of my high school buddies,

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and everybody told me I would never make the boot camp,” he said. “They said they’d see me in two or three weeks, but through the grace of God, it took a little longer but I went to boot camp and came out a lean, mean, green machine.”

“I lost 65 pounds there and actually rose through the ranks of corporal through the Marine Corps,” he said.

After getting a formal training in administration at Camp Pendleton and spending time at Twentynine Palms, California, and Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, Pierite was honorably discharged in 1985. With his military service concluded, he returned home to help his brothers with their concrete company as an office manager. In June of 1988, he accepted an opportunity as a contract medical care clerk with the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe, kickstarting a career with the Tribe that

PHOTOS COURTESY TUNICA-BILOXI TRIBE OF LOUISIANA

arshall Pierite is not only Chairman of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana; he’s also a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, a small business owner, a former social worker, a father, and a husband.

“But the most important title I cherish is being a servant to all,” he told Native Business Magazine.

In Marksville, where the Tribe is based, Pierite learned firsthand the value of hard work, persistence, and appreciation for family, community and culture.

“I am one of 12 children, and we grew up in very humble beginnings,” Pierite said.

“My father was a sharecropper with a thirdgrade education and my mom had no formal education to speak of. But both of them had the wisdom and the fortitude to instill the values of love, trust and respect in each and every one of us.”

PHOTO COURTESY TUNICA-BILOXI TRIBE OF LOUISIANA

By Andrew Ricci

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Baskets made by Tunica-Biloxi Tribe

For two centuries, the Tunica-Biloxi has been in the Marksville area, even though the Tribe wasn’t federally recognized as a sovereign Nation until 1981 under the leadership of then-Chairman Earl J. Barbry, Sr. They then began a legal effort to recover the Tunica Treasure — a collection of artifacts that was unearthed and looted from graves in the late 1960s.

“It was the largest collection of American Indian artifacts in the country, and it was dug up from the graves of our ancestors,” Pierite said. “After a decade long legal battle, we finally won that ruling, which became a landmark not only for the Tunica-Biloxi, but for all of Indian Country.”

“It actually laid the foundation for a new federal law, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act,” he said.

“It basically states that any grave goods or objects which are held by museums or federal and state agencies that are identifiable

to a particular Tribe must be returned to that Tribe, and by the grace of God, every piece of our Tunica treasure is now housed here at the museum on the Tunica-Biloxi reservation.”

“It also allowed us to establish the very first full-scale artifact conservation laboratory in Indian Country, which is still here today at the Tunica-Biloxi reservation,” he said.

That was a launching point for a new era of cultural preservation efforts that the Tribe has undertaken, and Pierite says that today the Tunica-Biloxi is “fighting tooth and nail to bring our traditions back to life.”

One way they’re achieving this is through a language and cultural revitalization program that was launched in 2010 to restore the Tunica language.

“People wanted to see our language back, so we partnered with Tulane University to start the Tunica Language Project, and that effort has reawakened our language,” Pierite said. “Fast forward nine years, and we now have a robust teaching program that teaches our language weekly to a class of around 65 to 68 young people and adults, and we are extremely proud of it. We are also hosting a language camp every summer.”

“We want to enhance our capabilities because our goal within the next 10 years is to make sure every citizen can speak Tunica fluently,” he added.

After federal recognition in 1981 and the restoration of the Tunica Treasure in the summer of 1989, the Tribe began looking toward other ways to generate economic development. On June 3, 1994, they opened Grand Casino Avoyelles, now known as Paragon Casino Resort, which also has the distinction of being the first land-based casino in the state. That initial facility was a 38,000-square-foot casino with 800 slot machines and 12 table games, and it started a cycle of economic rejuvenation that continues today, where the Tribe’s gaming enterprise is the largest employer in central Louisiana.

“Paragon has been a blessing not only to the Tunica-Biloxi, but to Central Louisiana as a whole,” Pierite said. “It changed the way we do business, giving us a wealth creator and a golden goose for a long time.”

“It created opportunities for jobs, it gave us the ability to expand our healthcare services, our housing, and also it allowed us to create our higher education scholarship program. That was a game changer because we had the ability to send our Tribal citizens to colleges and universities throughout the United States, helping them significantly with tuition and fees as well as room and board.”

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POINT OF VIEW

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Native American Financial Services Association:

HELPING TRIBES SUCCEED

in the Financial Services Industry For Nearly a Decade

By Mika Leonard

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PHOTO COURTESY MIKA LEONARD

cisions and actions, but also the integrity of their intent.”

“They taught me that a leader has to stand on core values, be respectful of others’ trust, and have trust in others, but most importantly, they need to not only love everyone they come in contact with, but learn to love what they do,” he added. “So I would say that my greatest asset is my faith in God and I try my very best to make sure every decision I make is a faith-based decision and not a decision based on my feelings.

A true leader has to be true to themselves and believe in every decision they make.”

These core values of respect, love, courage, character, and integrity inform all that he does, and he sees them reflected in some of his greatest achievements as a leader of the Tunica-Biloxi.

One, he says, is the Tribe’s Seventh Generation Youth Council, which empowers Tribal Youth by giving them a foundation to become future leaders — not only of the Tunica-Biloxi, but of the region, state and all of Indian Country. Another is an overhaul of the Tribe’s ethics code Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards that guaranteed transparency, (left) with Tunica-Biloxi Chairman Marshall accountability, and accessibility Pierite at the first Louisiana Rural and to all levels of leadership. A third Economic (LaRuE) Development Summit is the collaboration that has been hosted at Paragon Casino Resort in July. developed with Southern University in Baton Rouge to establish an Indian Law program. And finally, he cites the first Louisiana as a successful target for Tribal business.

Rural Economic Development Summit, Outside of his business roles on behalf held in July 2019 at Paragon Casino Resort, of the Tribe, Pierite also launched his own as another way to build relationships and company, The Pierite Group, which is a establish the Tribe as a good community business advisory company specializing in partner.

Tribal governance, corporate governance, None of this is possible alone, he says, and financial services. without a lot of great leaders who paved the way.

“Our story doesn’t just begin in 1981 Pierite credits his military background as with federal recognition or in 1994 with one of the keys to his success. the casino,” Pierite said. “It began centuries “In the Marine Corps, I learned from Col. ago about the love of community, and the J.D. Sparks and a General that I worked unbackbone of the Tunica-Biloxi’s success is der at Kaneohe Bay that a true leader somebecause of the love of the community. That times has to have the confidence to stand same love still exists today.” alone and the courage to make tough deci“The Tunica-Biloxi wants to be a great sions, but most importantly they need the community partner, and we want to help compassion to listen to the needs of othothers win,” he added. “I think that is the ers,” Pierite said. “And a true leader has to story that needs to be told.” rely and depend on the quality of their de-

PHOTO COURTESY TUNICA-BILOXI TRIBE OF LOUISIANA

For a person who dreamed of going to college in his youth but didn’t have the means to do so, this is a particular point of pride.

Another benefit of the development of gaming enterprises is that the Tribe has been able to diversify its economic development efforts.

“Paragon allowed us to go from an agricultural community to a hospitality community,” Pierite said. “It allowed us to transition from a ‘surviving community’ to a ‘thriving community’ overnight.”

In 2011, the Tribe entered the financial services industry with the launch of Mobiloans, an enterprise offering small dollar loans to consumers. The Tribal Council appointed Pierite to be Chairman of the new company’s board, and shortly after, he was also named its CEO. “We led a great team on this startup company into a multimillion-dollar corporation,” he said. “We’re doing cutting-edge stuff with Mobiloans, and we’re still expanding.”

“We put together a strategic plan where we can piggyback off our lending enterprise to create more job opportunities by doing our own collections and also running our own call centers,” he said. “We have a small call center and we outsource the vast majority of the work, but we want to bring those jobs home here on the reservation by the end of 2020 or 2021. Our goal is to create 1,500 to 1,800 more call center jobs throughout Louisiana and throughout Indian Country.”

“We also want to do our own collections, which is a unique opportunity as well,” he said. “With lending, it is another key component needed to have a successful enterprise that we think we can build upon, as well as our capacity in the analytics arena.

So we have a lot of things on board and a lot of things that we are getting ready to implement through strategic partnerships.”

In addition to the Tribe’s gaming and lending businesses, they’re also looking at diversifying into healthcare, as well as creating their own convenience store brand and taking it out to Louisiana and other areas. The burgeoning hemp industry, too, is an area where Pierite sees a lot of promise

“Paragon allowed us to go from an agricultural community to a hospitality community,” Pierite said. “It allowed us to transition from a ‘surviving community’ to a ‘thriving community’ overnight.”

even years ago, in July of 2012, the Native American Financial Services Association (NAFSA) was formed when two smaller groups—the Native American Lending Alliance and the Native American Fair Commerce Coalition—decided to join forces. In so doing, they could pool their resources to more strategically fight back against criticism of Tribal businesses offering loans via the Internet.

At that time, online lending was a relatively new industry for Tribes looking to find innovative avenues of economic development and economic diversification. And it was a perfect fit. For Tribes on geographically isolated reservations, especially those where gaming revenues were feeling the results of the nationwide economic recession, the Internet provided a superhighway to Indian Country, enabling customers to access Tribally provided financial products from the comfort of their home, office, or mobile device.

For many Tribes, the online lending industry was the breakthrough they were waiting for, and it created an unquestionable abundance of opportunity for them. It filled slumping general budgets, created critical sources of revenue, and provided the essential services that Tribal governments needed to support.

Much of NAFSA’s work in those early years focused on advocacy and education—two activities that remain part of our core mission to this day. The types of loans that NAFSA members provide were under attack then, just as they are today—albeit on different fronts.

And as an organization, NAFSA engaged in some of the biggest battles facing online lending over the past decade, particularly Operation Choke Point, efforts by the New York Department of Financial Services to eliminate online lenders’ ACH Access, and the early days of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

On a separate track, NAFSA focused on providing vital education to elected officials, regulators, and the public at large about sovereignty: what it means, why it is important, and its history as a key component of Tribal self-governance since time immemorial.

The organization also spent considerable resources highlighting the government-to-government relationship between Tribes and the United States, as well as the Executive Order 13175 mandate that federal departments and agencies engage in consulta-

tion and coordination with Tribal governments when considering policies that would impact Tribal communities.

And finally, there was a concerted effort to educate about the issues affecting Indian Country and the potential to solve these issues through Internet-enabled economic development like Tribal online lending.

It’s a point of pride to be able to stand here today, looking back at these major battles in our rearview mirror and looking at the robust online lending industry that doesn’t merely exist, but is flourishing. Many of the Tribes who attended the meeting when NAFSA was founded are now running major Tribal lending enterprises and, in Mika Leonard some cases, are acquiring the vendors who provided services to their business at the outset. This vertical integration, in which Tribes are managing more and more aspects of the business in-house, is the future and where we see many Tribes headed as they grow their footprint in the industry.

While NAFSA was founded as an organization focused on protecting Tribal sovereignty in the online Tribal lending industry, we are now growing our focus as Tribes become more and more involved in other segments of the industry, including banks, credit unions, and sovereign wealth funds. We would be truly remiss to ignore those advances and the role that they are playing in Tribal economic development. NAFSA will help lead the way for a transition into the broader financial services marketplace.

In less than a decade, we’ve seen Tribal Financial Services, particularly the online lending sector, grow tremendously. NAFSA is both proud and fortunate to have been a part of that growth. And as Tribes expand into other financial service sectors, we want to continue enabling our current and future members to succeed.

Mika Leonard is the Chief Operations Officer of the Native American Financial Services Association (NAFSA). She is an enrolled member of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, a native of Oxford, Ohio, the ancestral homelands of the Tribe, and a graduate of Miami University in Oxford with a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics. Granddaughter of the late Chief Floyd Leonard, Mika has been active in the Miami Tribal community since an early age, and has dedicated her professional life to fostering economic development within Indian Country.

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TRANSITIONING TO

FULLY DIGITAL PUBLICATION IN 2020

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fter a year and a half of unprecedented success for a Native-owned media business, Native Business has launched the Native Business Mobile App, available across iOS and Android platforms!

The Native Business Mobile App is an invaluable resource to Native entrepreneurs and Tribal business leaders, as well as those who desire to know more about Native American business and Tribal economic development in general.

Users can effortlessly navigate through digitally optimized print articles that drive critical discussions about economic development and entrepreneurship across Indian Country. Like our website, the Native Business Mobile App will provide timely updates on business news and issues that impact Indian Country across 18 business “sections” and 24 business “sectors” — allowing you to stay up to date on the latest developments regarding an array of business that's happening in Indian Country.

Meanwhile the Native Business Podcast, accessible via the mobile app (and all platforms where you get your podcasts), will deliver interviews with leading Native businesspeople and Tribal leaders from across Indian Country.

“Innovation is happening at a faster pace, now more so than ever, and that is absolutely true in the world of publishing and media,” said Gary Davis (Cherokee Nation), Founder, Publisher and CEO of Native Business.

“We want to make sure that, as a Native-owned publication, we are right in line with those trends and making our content available to our readers in the most accessible and up-to-date fashion.”

Our Success & Finance 2019 issue marks our final print edition of Native Business Magazine, as we fully transition to digital. We urge Native Business readers to download the Native Business Mobile App immediately and sign up for alerts to stay on the pulse of the latest business news and trends relevant to Indian Country, in addition to staying in-the-know by reading NativeBusinessMag. com, subscribing and listening to the Native Business Podcast, tuning in to watch Native Business videos, and following Native Business on social media.

This new digital layer, the Native Business Mobile App,

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will drastically increase Native Business’ readership by providing easier access to breaking news and insightful business content. “It speaks to the type of engagement we want to have with our readers,” Gary said. “Not only will it expand our readership, it will importantly provide mainstream America with the opportunity to learn more about Native business and entrepreneurial news that, prior to Native Business Magazine, wasn’t accessible to them.”

Key Features of the Native Business Mobile App: • Choose what you want to follow and receive news notifications about!

• Share your favorite articles with your network!

• Easily search specific keywords to find the information that is important to you!

Growth Mode Native Business has been in high-growth mode since our launch in July 2018, when NativeBusinessMag.com debuted. Shortly thereafter, we began distributing our print magazine across the United States, including to every member of the U.S. Congress. Within a year, we hosted our inaugural Native Business Summit and launched the Native Business Podcast, sharing impactful business interviews on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify and more platforms.

In May 2019, we hosted our inaugural Native Business Summit. The event at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma, delivered a slate of high-caliber keynote speakers, production-level entertainment, unparalleled networking, and forums, panels and breakout sessions that dug deep into issues and topics of relevance to economic development and entrepreneurship across Indian Country.

2020 Vision In 2020, it’s full-speed ahead for Native Business — with our expanded digital footprint, via the Native Business Mobile App, and plans to roll out a paid business training and development portal, available via Native Business Video at NativeBusinessMag.com.

The paid platform will deliver highly valuable business training and “how to” videos, available at a price point

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accessible to most everyone. Native Business videos will also capture thought-provoking panel conversations, presentations, speeches and tangible business advice shared at the Native Business Summit, as well as provide access to exclusive interviews with Tribal thought leaders and successful Native entrepreneurs. Native Business videos are sure to be a valuable resource to keep readers informed and help them and their businesses grow.

“The value add of our digital content in 2020 is intense,” Gary emphasized. “Native Business will bring news and information directly to Indian Country like never before.”

Also in 2020, the second annual Native Business Summit returns to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tulsa, September 1-3rd.

“At the Native Business Summit 2020, people can expect an even more energetic, inspiring, motivating, value-added business event that will provide top-notch networking. We’re very grateful to Cherokee Nation Businesses for their previous and ongoing support — for agreeing to be the presenting sponsor of our second annual Native Business Summit,” said Carmen Davis (Makah Tribe), Founder, Publisher and Executive Editor of Native Business Magazine.

In addition to sponsorship opportunities for the Native Business Summit 2020, Tribes and businesses can sponsor the Native Business Mobile App and Native Business videos.

As Native Business executes our 2020 vision to bring greater value to Indian Country and beyond, we are committed to continuing to harness cutting-edge technology to enhance access to business resources and news.

“We truly are informing business in Indian Country,” Carmen said. “We are very grateful that our efforts have been so successful. That as Native entrepreneurs ourselves, we have not only been able to identify a void and fill it, but that by lifting up and increasing the awareness of business and Tribal economic development across Indian Country, we are helping empower Native people across Indian Country today — and for future generations to come.”

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MARSHALL PIERITE Cherishing the Past and Building for the Future

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LEGAL VICTORIES IN INDIAN COUNTRY IN 2019 HIGH ACHIEVER: LAS VEGAS PAIUTE TRIBE

Tribes Turn to the Sun to Create a New Energy Economy

LANDLESS FOR NEARLY SIX DECADES, WILTON RANCHERIA HAS A HOME EIGHTH GENERATION SELLS TO SNOQUALMIE TRIBE