Foxwoods Special Commemorative Insert 02-08-17 by The Resident

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The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

Richard “Skip” Hayward: The Man with the Plan

n the early 1970s, Richard “Skip” Hayward was working as a pipe-fitter at Electric Boat. His grandmother, Elizabeth George Plouffe, was the last surviving Tribal member living on the Mashantucket Pequot Reservation. She had beseeched her relatives, who were scattered far and wide, to hold on to their precious Tribal lands, which would revert to the state upon her death. After Elizabeth died in 1973, Skip moved back to the reservation and began to form a vision: a vision for repatriating Tribal members and creating the jobs and economic opportunities whose absence had caused them to leave. In 1975, Skip became Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and there was no doubt that things would soon change for the Tribe—and change for the better! The original reservation deeded by the government to the Tribe consisted of 3000 acres. At the time Skip became their leader, the Tribe owned only 213 acres. He made purchasing land a priority, with the goal of buying back all the land that had once belonged to the Tribe. In 1976, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation filed suit to regain the land taken by the State of Connecticut in 1855 and sold at auction. The court ruled in the Tribe’s favor and restored a large plot of reservation land. Also, thanks to Skip’s persistence in promoting the Tribe and building

relationships with key government officials, the federal government recognized the Tribe and created a $900,000 trust to be used to buy back more of their land. With that funding, Skip and his Tribal Council were able to purchase another 800 acres. Once more land had been acquired, Skip was able to persuade Tribal members to return to the reservation. He began a four-phase construction project to build housing for his returning kinsfolk. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation was rebuilding, but in order to have a solid standard of living, they needed jobs. Through 1985, the main sources of income for the Tribe were a maple syrup business, a hydroponic lettuce-growing operation, a sand and gravel pit, and a tree-cutting service. Skip’s vision of economic independence for his people came to fruition in 1986, when the Tribe opened a highly successful Bingo Hall. Revenues generated enabled the Tribe to purchase more land, and by 1991, their property had grown to 1775 acres. As Skip contemplated the next big move, he considered that the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 federally recognized a Tribe’s right to operate games of chance if that form of gaming was already permitted in the state. Connecticut law stated that non-profit organizations could hold “Las Vegas nights,” which include games of chance. And thus, the concept for Foxwoods was born. The rest, as they say, is history. Foxwoods Resort and Casino opened its

Skip Hayward: “For me it has always been, and always will be, about my Tribe.”

doors in 1992 to unimaginably large crowds, providing jobs to thousands of people over the ensuing years. Although its fortunes have flowed and ebbed with the ups and downs of the economy, Foxwoods has continued to be a successful operation and the Mashantucket Pequots are now proudly celebrating its 25th anniversary. Skip served as Tribal Council

Chairman until 1998. Although he is no longer involved in Tribal activities, all who have played – and continue to play – a role at Foxwoods – owe him a debt of gratitude for being “the man with the plan.” Editor’s Note: Sections of this article were adapted and excerpted from a story in The Resident, May 1-14, 1996.

The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

Tribal Council Chairman Rodney Butler Embodies True Leadership

odney Butler just started his eighth year as Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council. That’s pretty amazing for a guy who hasn’t even reached the age of 40, but no one who knows this accomplished young man is surprised at his success. Rodney grew up in Montville and was an avid football player at Montville High School. He graduated in 1995 and went on to the University of Connecticut, where he earned a degree in finance. “After I graduated from UCONN, I started working at Foxwoods as a financial analyst. In 2001 I became Chair of the Advisory Board over nongaming,” Rodney explained. After being on that board for two years, Rodney was elected to the Tribal Council, taking his seat in 2004. “I was 26 and at at-large council member. It was my first time in Tribal government and I had a lot to learn,” he acknowledged. “The following year, the incumbent treasurer was not reelected. I was asked to consider the opening because of my background. Plans were locked in for an expansion. We were going out for financing and putting a budget together.” In January 2010, Rodney was elected Chairman of the Tribal Council. “It’s a big job but a fun job,” he said. “There’s a public perception of the Tribal Council

Chairman as being the leader, but in reality we have a democracy. One of my challenges is balancing what I feel with the collective vision of the council. It’s important to always balance individual needs with the needs of our nation. We may have unique life experiences but we all share a common history.” When asked what he likes best about his job, Rodney says, “I love everything! I am blessed to have this opportunity to help so many people in my family and community.” Rodney extends his helping spirit far beyond the Tribe. He joined the United Way board in 2009, and in 2010 and 2011 was Campaign co-chair with Mel Peters, helping to raise nearly $12M, followed by Leadership Giving Chair from 2012 through today. He is also the Tribal Council Chairman Rodney Butler celebrated in his regalia at board Chair-elect. He was recent- Schemitzun,August 29-30, 2015. ly honored with the United Way’s Inspiration Award. business venture, Foxwoods Resort Casino. In reflecting on “We love giving back,” Rodney Foxwoods’ 25th anniversary, Rodney gives “tremendous credsaid. “Recently, we helped the New it” to Skip Hayward and his Tribal Council, as well as to many London Food Kitchen and have an others who worked behind the scenes. annual ‘Stuff the Bus’ Toy Drive for “We are grateful for all of their efforts, persistence, and United Way. It’s amazing to have vision,” he said. “What they did at that time with very little rethe ability to help!” sources was incredible. We’re riding the wave that many have Rodney is excited about develop- created. I am blessed to be here to help lead us into the future!” ments and plans for his Tribe’s main

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The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

Richard E. Sebastian Sees More Opportunities On The Horizon

s a member of the MPTN Tribal Council, Richard E. Sebastian has come a long way since his humble beginnings in the projects of Providence, Rhode Island. “When I was a kid in the projects, you had to be careful. I spent a lot of my day playing basketball and football until mom said it was time to come home. Once the street lights came on, you had to be inside!” Over the years, Richard’s mother moved the family from one place to the other. After graduating from Central High School in 1980, Richard started working at McDonalds in downtown Providence and then worked for a security firm. “In 1987 my dad called me. My stepmother worked in hospitals and traveled a lot, and my dad was ill and needed someone to be with him.” Richard’s dad, Vincent Sebastian, lived on the Mashantucket Reservation. “Coming here was the best thing,” Richard said. “When you live in the city, the houses are close to one another. Living on the reservation offered me privacy plus much more—an opportunity to be able to create my own destination. I saw that as a Tribe, we have the same

responsibilities as a state government: providing for our people, developing businesses, creating jobs.” Richard’s first job for the Tribe was in the brand-new Bingo Hall as a security officer. When Foxwoods was built, he took a security position there. “I worked the day shift inside, watching products come into the loading dock on monitors,” Richard recalled. “I was promoted to Assistant Director and Director in a short time. I also worked for Kenny Reels and was his Executive Assistant.” While working full time, Richard earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and an Associate’s Degree in Business Management from the University of New Haven. He also served several terms on the Tribal Council, including as Chairman. “I was first elected in 1988 and served till 1990. I ran for Tribal Council again and was reelected in 2001, and served till 2011,” he said. To his surprise, Richard was diagnosed with diabetes. “This blew my mind because I never ate unhealthy. I was always trying to stay fit,” he said. He learned to successfully manage his illness through medication, a healthful diet, and an exercise regimen. In 2012 Richard went to work for the Tribal Gaming Commission as an

Tribal Councilor Richard E. Sebastian celebrated at Foxwoods’ Sweet 16 party on February 15, 2008.

inspector. Then he ran for Tribal Council again and was reelected in 2014 as Vice Chair. One of the things Richard is most proud of is creating a financial literacy program for Tribal members. “I am passionate about the things I do and I still have a lot of work to do,” Richard said. “I think about what I am leaving to my grandkids. My children and grandchildren are my pride and glory. I am hopeful for the future. There is opportunity on the horizon and it’s there for our taking.”

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The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

Kenny Reels Runs the ‘Eyes in the Sky’

Vice Chairman of Foxwoods Gaming Commission Kenny Reels, a longtime MPTN Councilor, proudly wears his regalia at the annual Schemitzun celebrations in 2015.“I will never forget where I come from.”

hen Kenny Reels served in the U.S. military, he excelled at managing supplies, creating efficient processes, and improving the way things were done. His natural organizing skills and

military experience served the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation well when the time came to set up operations for the Tribe’s Bingo Hall and later, for Foxwoods.

“When I go into a place, it’s automatic for me to see how things are run and think about how we can improve the processes,” said Kenny, who operated the Tribe’s sand and gravel pit after getting out of the military in 1986, right around the time the Bingo Hall opened. “When I was in the military, I was a property purchasing and contracting officer. I tracked assets and purchase order requests and put controls in place for contracting, warehousing, supply, purchasing, and inventory. Skip Hayward asked me to set up controls for tracking assets and inventory while the Bingo Hall was opening. I put everything we purchased into the computer and created hand receipts everyone had to sign off on so they would pay attention to the items under their responsibility and make sure things weren’t damaged or stolen.” Kenny served on the MPTN Tribal Council for 18 years and was Tribal Council Chairman for four years. In February 2009, he took on the role of Vice Chairman of the Gaming Commission. “The Gaming Commission regulates the gaming enterprise,” Kenny explained. “We operate the surveillance, the ‘eyes in the

sky’ that watch people come into the building. We write the rules of the game and create the procedures for the movement of assets, people, and money.” The Gaming Commission’s team of inspectors is on the job around the clock, auditing processes and inspecting slot machines. The Gaming Commission also oversees issues related to problem gamblers. “We care about problem gamblers and their families,” Kenny said. “In my work with the Gaming Commission and the Tribal Council, I have tried to be fair and treat people respectfully. I feel so blessed to have been able to give all those years to my Tribe. I made myself available to them 24 hours a day. If they knocked on the door, I answered,” Kenny said. The Tribe has also given back to Kenny, who is fighting cancer for the second time. “It’s full circle.” “I am ever thankful to Skip for his vision of bringing people back onto the reservation and building our economy,” Kenny said. “He kept our people coming home and staying home. We have great benefits above industry standards, a big economic engine providing jobs we can all work at. We were blessed and we worked for it. I will never forget where I come from.”

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The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

John Holder, The Can-Do Man

Tribal Member John Holder meeting with Connecticut DOT Commissioner Bill Burns and representatives of CT OPM, DOT, and the Connecticut Indian Affairs Council at the hydroponic greenhouse operation at Mashantucket, 1980.

f you’ve ever made your way to the lobby of the Grand Pequot Tower, whether you were passing through to gamble, dine, shop, see a concert, or attend a class reunion, then surely you had the sense to pause for a moment and look up and around at the elegance, the cleanliness, and the seamlessness of the multi-faceted enterprise. And like me, you must have wondered, “How do they do it?”

And if you’ve ever met John Holder, you begin to understand very quickly. In the first five minutes that I was with him, I watched him cajole the valets, embrace an elderly tribal member who was passing through, greet a dozen employees, each by name, and buy a bunch of small, unpainted wooden houses made by an old friend, a woodworker, as a project for the kids in the Children’s Center.

John is currently a Project Manager at Foxwoods, primarily overseeing capital projects and the maintenance of the Two Trees Hotel. Like him, his office is unassuming and filled to overflowing with history, ingenuity, and practicality. Spread out on the table are the floor plans for the Two Trees where he is trouble-shooting a painting issue. In a binder nearby is the RFP for the renovation of the buffet that he is currently helping to orchestrate. On a wall is a framed article from The New York Daily News from February, 1992, announcing the grand opening of Foxwoods Casino. And on and on and on. Holder, a Tribal Member himself, has been affiliated with and employed by Foxwoods in a variety of significant capacities since 1978, when his cousin, original Tribal Chairman Richard “Skip” Hayward, called him “out of the blue one day when I was at my job at Electric Boat” and asked him to be the “Executive Director of the Housing Authority” for a new project; after years of negotiating, Hayward had secured state and federal funding for housing for tribal family members. It was the first of many steps the tribe took to re-establish their Tribal Covenant. So John paved the first road into the reservation, oversaw the construction of

the first 15 houses, and also the construction of the tribe’s first commercial venture — a 4,000 square foot hydroponic greenhouse, which grew the loveliest lettuce you ever saw, but failed terribly economically. As the enterprise has grown, so too, have John’s responsibilities. He was instrumental in the construction of the water tower which was an essential prerequisite of the Bingo Hall, and in 1986 when it opened, he became the Chairman of the Bingo Commission. He was also significantly instrumental in the acquisition of a full gaming license after a careful read of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (established in October 1988) convinced him that the Pequots were entitled to the license because they had already been operating a themed “Las Vegas Night” with roulette, craps, and cards at The Bingo Hall. Though the state protested, and after a lengthy legal battle involving both the Federal Court of Appeals and The Supreme Court (who turned the case over to the Judicial Department), the Pequots persevered and won the prolonged dispute. When Foxwoods Casino opened its doors on February 15, 1992, John was the Associate Director of Marketing and Entertainment. These days, after a brief leave (2008-2010), he is back to work in the capacity of Project Manager doing what he loves to do best — solving problems.

The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

George Henningsen Is Having Too Much Fun to Retire!

Gotta Know When To Hold ‘em! MPTN Gaming Commission Chairman George Henningsen (r) enjoyed the Foxwoods PokerTournament with country music superstar Kenny Rogers (l) and President and CEO Mickey Brown (c); December 1993.

he Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Gaming Commission is responsible for regulatory oversight of all gaming activities, protecting the public interest in the integrity of tribal gaming, preventing improper or unlawful conduct in the course of the gaming activities conducted on the reservation, and protecting Tribal Assets and Tribal Sovereignty. As Chairman of the Gaming Commission, George Henningsen has been on board since day one. Over the past 25 years, he has worked under a grand total of nine CEOs—Al Luciani, Mickey Brown, Bud Celey, Bill Sherlock, John O’Brien, Barry Cregan, Mike Speller, Scott Butera, and currently, Felix Rappaport. While some people might find it difficult to learn to work for that many bosses, George said it’s simply a matter of “adapting

and adjusting to what you’re delivering. It’s also important to help each one understand exactly what my job entails as a Commissioner, to make sure we abide by the all the rules and regulations.” With an extensive legal background, George has always been the perfect person to do just that. He graduated from Rutgers University School of Law and worked in the New Jersey Attorney General’s office and in Criminal Appellate functions. He was Deputy Director of the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice from 1982 until 1986 and served as the Deputy Director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement from 1986 until 1991 before coming to Foxwoods—one of the sharp legal minds the Tribe brought in to make sure all the gaming Is were dotted and Ts were crossed. George previously served as Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Commission’s Vice Chairman. From 1991 until 1993, he served as its Executive Director. Then Henningsen was chosen as Foxwoods first Senior Vice President of Operations, overseeing a staff of 7000 employees at what was then the world’s largest casino. He then served as Foxwoods’ Senior Vice

President of Compliance before returning to the Gaming Commission as Chairman in 2003. Over the years, changes in gaming technology have required corresponding changes in regulations, George pointed out. “One of the biggest changes we’ve seen was in the mid-1990s, when we went from slot machines using coins to ticket machines. This required educating and retraining staff.” He added that one of his keys to success on the job is “Consistent communication at the line level. It’s vital for everyone to understand what they are doing and why. It helps to be very patient.” In looking toward the future, George said one goal is finding new gaming initiatives that will benefit the Tribe and appeal to younger generations. “Younger guests enjoy games of skill and chance that are interactive and rely more on skill than chance,” he said. “I am proud and fortunate to have been part of Foxwoods from the beginning,” George said. He gives much of the credit for success to the “unbelievably skilled, educated, bright, and personable group of people” who work there. George acknowledged that people ask him when he’s going to retire. It’s not going to happen anytime soon. As he said, “I’m having too much fun!”

Congratulations to the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation on

25 Years of Success at Foxwoods Resort Casino

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The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

Tribal Council

Front row: Jean Swift, r; Richard E. Sebastian, Vice Chairman; Rodney Butler, Chairman; Crystal M. Whipple, Secretary. Back row: (l-r) Councilors Daniel Menihan, Roy Colebut-Ingram, and Merrill Reels

THE WONDER OF IT ALL!

Congratulations to the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation on 25 wonderful years at Foxwoods!

The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

Felix Rappaport Excited about “Master Plan”

Felix Rappaport, President & CEO, Foxwoods (third from l), toasted Cirque Éloize Saloon at its Premiere on August 12, 2016 with his team members (l-r): Adam Odegard,VP of Food & Beverage; Jason Guyot,VP of Resort Operations; Monique Sebastian,VP of Entertainment & Entertainment Marketing; Brian Charette,VP of Information Technology; and Eric Pearson, VP of Gaming & Revenue Enhancement.

ince Felix Rappaport took over as President and CEO of Foxwoods Resort Casino in February 2014, “the time has gone by very quickly,” he said. “They have not only been a quick three years but a very exciting three years, too!” Felix is enthused about several of the recent additions to Foxwoods’ already legendary array of offerings that have made the resort casino a destination favored by everyone from vacationing families to gaming high rollers. “We opened the Tanger designer outlet stores in May of 2015. They have done very well; out of the 12.7 million visitations we get per year, 3.5 of those visitors are going to Tanger,” he reported. Cake by Franck is another outstanding addition. “Franck Iglesias is one of the most talented pastry chefs in the world,” Felix said. “VUE 24, on the twenty-fourth floor of the Grand Pequot Tower,

has won awards for best and most romantic restaurant. Chef Daniel Boulud is the most famous chef in the world. We have a pretty powerful team and I’m pleased with the awards we’re getting.” The new Guy Fieri’s Foxwoods Restaurant and Bar is also getting rave reviews. Among the upcoming additions Felix mentioned are a Sugar Factory restaurant, featuring a “couture pop” — a lollipop with a bejeweled handle and six interchangeable “heads” in different flavors — and a zipline ride, due to open in June. “This will be one of the longest and highest in North America and world, traveling from the top of the Grand Pequot Tower to the Mashantucket Pequot Museum,” Felix said. In fall 2016, Felix unveiled a new five-year “master plan” to the Tribal Council; details are being closely guarded but will be revealed soon, he promised. “Part of our plan is to make this property into a more full-service destination resort,” Felix said. “As gaming continues to proliferate, in Massachusetts and elsewhere, we are building on our strengths. We have all the makings for a world-class resort. We are blessed to be in a beautiful part of New England and Connecticut. We

want to focus on even more nongaming amenities that will complement our gaming facilities.” Felix is excited about plans for the big 25th anniversary celebration, which will kick off on February 15 and go on all year long. “There will be more prizes, more games, and more fun!” he said. “We’ll be cutting a cake on February 15th. The Tribal Council and Elder’s Council officers will be there. We’ll have incredible entertainment that weekend, including free concerts. Featured performers will include Smokey Robinson, John Fogarty, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Dayne, and Morris Day and the Time. Our guests are going to have a great experience!” Later in the year Foxwoods will have a big gala. “We anticipate the gala will really be something special,” Felix said. “We will honor our Tribal leadership, our best players, partners, community organizations, and of course our team members. Many have been here for the whole 25 years!” While Foxwoods has much to celebrate, Felix noted that “the real beauty of what happened here in 1992 is that by fighting the initial battle of getting federally recognized, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation paved way for other tribes to improve their lives, too; today more than 200 tribes own 400-plus casinos. They are by nature a helping people who deeply live the spirit of powwow.”

The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

Barbara Poirier Helps Ensure Quality Healthcare

arbara Poirier was born and raised in Norwich, but she always felt close ties to her Tribe’s land in Mashantucket. When she was a young child her mother, Alice Langevin, helped Barbara learn about her cultural heritage by sharing personal stories of growing up on the reservation. She also shared with Barbara photographs and letters from her grandmother, Martha Hoxie, the matriarch of the family lines on the reservation. After graduating from Norwich Free Academy in 1969, Barbara attended Quinnipiac University and then worked in radiation therapy at Yale New Haven Hospital. “In the early 70s, I was involved with Tribal membership meetings every month,” she explained. “Things really started moving when Skip Hayward was elected chairman of the Tribal Council. We achieved Federal Recognition 1983 and repatriated many Tribal members.” When Foxwoods opened in 1992, Barbara took a position as the Tribe’s first Career Development Specialist. “We were very busy when the casino opened. I worked with Tribal members to perform interest inventories, exploring their career goals for Foxwoods and for Tribal government.” Barbara was elected to a three-year term on Tribal Council, serving from

1993 through 1995. “It was a busy, exciting, amazing time!” she recalled. “The revenues coming in helped us provide education and health care and build housing and infrastructure. It was great to watch the growth of Foxwoods!” Next, Barbara was Deputy Chief of Staff for four years. “We brought in people with expertise in IT, HR, finance, and continuous improvement and built a large organization of full-time employees,” she recalled. Her next role was as Executive Assistant to new Tribal Council members. Then she was Director of Health Services for three years. “With my background in health and my work with Tribal Council and operations, I felt it was a perfect fit,” Barbara said. In September 2016, Barbara became Chair of the new MPTN Healthcare Advisory Board. “We are working hard to provide the best health care and health insurance to Tribal members and employees,” Barbara said. She is also a member of the Tribe’s Finance Committee; a Commissioner on the Pre-trial Intervention Commission; a member of the Peacemakers Council; and a member of the Elder’s Council. “When I look back, I think about how my mother lived in poverty on the reservation in the early years. She felt such a stigma attached to this and felt deeply

Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Councilor Barbara Poirier (c) was joined by (l-r) Councilor Kenny Reels, Councilor JoAnn Isaac, Tribal Elder Richard F. Sebastian, Councilor Pedro Johnson and Mickey Brown, Foxwoods President & CEO at the ribbon cutting for Foxwoods’ new Poker Room, December 22, 1995.

about the work that needed to done to repatriate the Tribe and erase that stigma,” Barbara said. “Through the business we’ve built, we’ve been able to provide wonderful opportunities to the Tribe. One of the best things we did was to build our museum, to invest in the archeological and anthropological research needed to provide our true history. This leaves a wonderful legacy. I feel so blessed to be a part of it and so proud of who we are.”

Pedro Johnson Is Proud of His Legacy

edro Johnson can’t believe 25 years have passed since Foxwoods opened its doors. A three-term Tribal Council member who played the key roles of Treasurer and Secretary, Pedro helped oversee all the phases of the resort and casino’s construction and expansion. “Foxwoods was built in phases, and I was involved with most of the phases,” said Pedro, who today is a member of the Elder’s Council. “What I enjoyed most was the opportunity to give the public an idea of who we are within that facility. As a Tribe, we wanted Foxwoods to include things that represented us. We put important things there that might seem small but are very significant. People walking through the facility may not even notice, but if they were to look around, they would see shapes, colors, and flowers that are meaningful to our people. “We felt this was very important because many people in the State of Connecticut and New England didn’t even realize what they had here,” Pedro continued. “We are a historic tribe with roots in a critical period of time, and this isn’t even taught in schools. We have the oldest, or one

of the oldest, reservations in the United States. The first declaration of war was against us—today you can see it in the State House in Hartford. So the most significant thing about Foxwoods was that it gave us an opportunity to explain about our history. At first, we had a small museum in Foxwoods, but then we built our larger museum so everyone could see our role in history. We wanted people to know that we are a resilient and proud people.” Another thing that pleases Pedro is that the Tribe built a place with something for everyone. “When we were planning Foxwoods, I remember explaining to people that not everyone is into gaming. So we built a facility that isn’t just a casino, it’s a resort. It gives people a place to come and enjoy themselves. They can go to a nice restaurant and see a show,” he said. Pedro is particularly thankful that through its hard work and good fortune, the Tribe has been able to help others. “When the state was experiencing trouble and there weren’t a lot of jobs, we were in a position to help a lot of people,” he said. Foxwoods has experienced its own challenges, like every other business, he acknowledged. “We’ve experienced

Tribal Council Treasurer Pedro Johnson (second from r) helped cut the ribbon at the April 11, 1995, opening of Cedars Steak House; also pictured (l to r) Mickey Brown, President and CEO; Councilor Michael Thomas; and Tribal Council Secretary Gary Carter.

downturns, like everyone else. But I encourage people to remember our resiliency. This didn’t happen overnight. We came up from the ashes,” Pedro said. “I myself remain an optimist. My hope for the future is that we have continued success and more important, continued unity; that we always keep our history in mind and never forget where we came from.”

The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

Bruce Kirchner Helped Clear the Way for His Tribe’s Greatest Accomplishments

ruce A. Kirchner served on the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council for 14 years, from 1975 through 1989. He saw a lot of changes during that time, but couldn’t have imagined the world-class resort and casino that would open its doors on the Tribe’s land in 1992. “When I first got on the Tribal Council, we were all volunteers. As Secretary-Treasurer, I managed the annual budget, which was only $350 at that time!” Bruce recalled. He also managed the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) grants that the Tribe secured to hire people—both Tribal and non-tribal—to help with all the work that needed to be done to meet the Tribe’s goals. Bruce also did a lot of hard physical work. “We cleared land and completed our first phase of housing, 15 houses, in 1981. Many of us who were living off the reservation moved back there,” he said. “All the work we did was very rewarding. In the meantime, Skip Hayward was doing a lot of traveling to get our name out there and build relationships. We were all working on Federal Recognition, which we achieved in 1983,” Bruce said. After the Bingo Hall opened in 1986, Bruce became its Managing Director. “I was Managing Director trainee for the Bingo Hall from 1986 until 1988,” Bruce said. “There were a lot of Tribal members in trainee roles for two years, and then we took over those positions. As Managing Director, I planned schedules for

games, attended organizational sessions, and was involved in HR activities. It was exciting to see the results of all of our efforts and I enjoyed coming to work every day!” Bruce helped with the planning and hiring for Foxwoods and then he became the new casino’s Director of Materials Management. “I had to start from scratch in setting up our purchasing, warehouse, and distribution operations,” he said. “I had a phone growing out of my ear! It was very exciting!” The Tribe had been enjoying consistently big crowds and the Bingo Hall, but that was nothing

compared to the multitudes of guests who appeared on opening day! When Foxwoods opened, “the crowds that showed up were mind-boggling!” Bruce said. “We couldn’t close the doors! We were all working overtime, but if you love your job, it isn’t work!” Bruce was promoted from Director of Materials Management to Vice President of Administration and then Senior Vice President of Administration, a position he held until he retired in 2006. Bruce is still very involved with his Tribe. “I’m on the Utility Authority and on the Board of Trustees for our Endowment Fund, where we put money to be used by future generations. I also still meet with the Elders,” he said. Bruce is glad so many Tribal members are working at Foxwoods today. “There are more members working there than ever, and they want to move up in the organization. It’s so satisfying to see members interested in doing that,” he said. “I consider myself very lucky to have been a part of Foxwoods. It was a rare opportunity to work hard and build something from nothing.”

Mike Holder’s Game Of BINGO

ike Holder had a keen awareness of his Native American heritage long before he was called home to Mashantucket by former Tribal Chairman Skip Hayward after the Tribe achieved Federal Recognition. After all, his greataunt was Elizabeth George, the only inhabitant of the reservation at the time of her passing in 1973. Mike had fond memories of childhood visits to the old homestead. When the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation built its Bingo Hall in 1986, Mike worked for two years as a management trainee. “I even called numbers!” he said. In 1988, with the Tribe taking over all facets of the bingo operation, Bruce Kirchner, a Tribal member who is now Senior Vice President of Administration, became Managing Director. Mike was named Operations Manager—a position he held until 1994 when Bruce moved on to Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mike was promoted, ultimately achieving the title of Vice President of Bingo Operations. “Things that happened here totally amazed me,” Mike said. “Skip had the vision and was the main motivator.” Mike enjoyed running the bingo operation so much that he stayed there rather than taking on a different position at Foxwoods Resort Casino. “I was happy with my work supervising operations,” he said. One thing he enjoyed most was making sure that visitors were content and comfortable

at all times. When Foxwoods offered a training program by the premier customer service trainers in the casino industry, Mike relished the opportunity to learn even more about delivering top-notch service to the scores of guests who came through the doors of the Bingo Hall. Mike said he always liked to walk through the Bingo Hall, talking to people and making sure everything was running well. Although he is no longer with Foxwoods, he has plenty of great memories of his many years there.

Editor’s Note: Portions of this story were adapted and excerpted from an article in The Resident, March 8-21, 1995.

“Things that happen here totally amaze me. Skip (Hayward) has the vision and is the main motivator. He and the people around him get things done.”

The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

Foxwoods Resort Casino Celebrates 30th Anniversary of BINGO

ith a dream spearheaded by Richard There were people camped out in tents “Skip” Hayward and 25 blocked along Route 2. When the doors finally spaces on a card, Foxwoods broke opened, the line to get in wrapped around gaming ground in 1986 with the opening of the building and some 1500 people showed its state-of-the-art Bingo Hall. On July 2, up to play. We were sold out by 10:30 a.m. Foxwoods celebrated 30 years of Bingo with that July 4th 1986, and from that incredible Firecracker Bingo in the 3500-seat Bingo Hall day, bingo continues to thrive.” at Foxwoods, the largest in the country, with The Tribe’s success with the game of a top prize of $1 million! bingo gave way to the building of Foxwoods In a recent discussion about the history Resort Casino, which opened in 1992 of “what started it all,” John Holder, Tribal and is celebrating its 25th anniversary member and Project Manager Foxwoods throughout 2017. Two years later, in July Engineering & Master Planning stated, “On 1994, Foxwoods cut the ribbon on its new April 30, 1984, the Pequot corporate body 3500-seat Bingo Hall—the largest hall in voted 12-1 with two abstentions North America. to approve the conBelinda worked alongside Foxwoods’ (top) In July 1994, Foxwoods cut the ribbon struction of a highfirst Tribal Bingo Team: Manager Bruce on its new 3500-seat bingo hall — the largest stakes bingo operaKirchner, Assistant Manager Mike Holder, hall in the country. (l-r) Bruce Kirchner, tion.” John explained Food & Beverage Manager Joey Carter, Senior VP of Administration, Foxwoods that the road at the Human Resources Manager Gary Carter, Resort Casino, Michael Holder, VP of Bingo start was “rocky” and Security Manager Bobby Hayward. and G. Michael “Mickey” Brown, CEO & after Connecticut’s There were fewer than 50 employees to President, Foxwoods Resort Casino. chief state criminal manage the crowd including all floor work(left) Beth Vining, a 27-year Foxwoods’ attorney wrote the ers, admission clerks, booth attendants, bingo veteran held up winner’s card at Tribe a letter threatcallers and kitchen staff—a bare minimum Foxwoods’ Million Dollar Firecracker ening to shut down compared to the 150 or more that it takes Bingo, July 2, 2016. the bingo operation if to run the bingo complex today. opened as planned. The The 30-year anniversary milestone Mashantucket Pequots presented a unique opportunity to refiled for a federal prelimiflect on how far the Tribe came and what nary injunction and Judge Peter Dorsey they learned along this incredible jourgranted a permanent injunction on January ney, stated Rodney Butler, Chairman of 9, 1986, holding that Connecticut’s bingo laws the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. did not apply to the reservation. “Gaming was the only option that pro“Building the bingo hall was a $4M provided a stable, consistent profit for us, ject and we only had one million,” said John. despite many other business attempts in “During the construction, Hurricane Gloria the early eighties—and it all began arrived with all her glory. She blew down a with our High special cedar tree, and that huge tree that Stakes Bingo we were saving crushed the steel on the west Hall. Had it not side of the structure. So now, we were out been for the piof money and $2M in the hole!” The Tribe oneering spirits needed an angel and they found one in Charlie and leadership Klewin Construction, Norwich. “Charlie nevof past and pres(l to r) Richard Chenail, Assistant Director of er stopped building,” said John. ent Tribal Elders, ““I trust them,”” said Charlie Klewin. Bingo; Belinda Hayward McKeon, Gaming we would not have That’s why the next phases of construction Commissioner, Foxwoods; and John Holder, provided thousands for Foxwoods Resort Casino were given to Project Manager, Engineering & Master of local jobs, doPlanning, Foxwoods; celebrated the 30th Klewin Construction on a handshake! nated hundreds of Next, Skip traveled to New York City for a anniversary of the first Bingo Hall on July millions in cash and D ua ne H e bank loan of $4M. Belinda Hayward McKeon, 2, 2016. sponsorships to redberg , Ass is tant Dir Operatio Vice Chair, Foxwoods Gaming Commission, gional charities, and e ctor of B in ns at Fox go woods, w one ” e m p recalled her brother, Skip, holding up the distributed nearly $4 a s one of m a loyees wh ny “day o stayed fo years ! check and saying, “Count the zeros!” billion dollars in slot r more th a n 20 The Bingo Hall opened on July 5, 1986. revenue to the State of It was an opening day most businesses only Connecticut, to date,” dream about! he pointed out. In a 1996 Resident interview, Tribal memAs Felix Rappaport, President & CEO, ber Michael Holder, John’s brother, who reFoxwoods Resort Casino, stated, “Bingo cently retired after 28 years as VP of Bingo, put the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal remembered that “Opening day at the Bingo Nation on the map! We have the largest Hall was an absolute madhouse!” Bingo Hall in the U.S. We estimate that Richard Chenail, Assistant Director of over the years, at least 55 million people Bingo, said, “I had a birds-eye view from the have passed through those doors to play admission booth and I still can’t believe the the most varied, fun, and exciting bingo ofnumber of people we had to turn away that ferings anywhere. Many of our Bingo Team day! The money was coming in and we were Members go back to day one, and without literally just throwing it into a bag!” their efforts, there never would have been Belinda recalled, “I worked as an EMT Foxwoods broke ground in the gaming world with the introduction of a Foxwoods Resort Casino!” on opening day. Bobby Hayward worked in Bingo in 1986. Security. The crowds were overwhelming.

The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

Tribal Elders

“Honor your Elders, For they have the Wisdom to Teach what we have not learned yet.” Native American quote

T Front row (l-r):Arlene Phalnetta, Eunice Mitchell, Regina Kirchner, Laura Porter, Juanita Reels, Phyllis Monroe Waite, Eva Pearson, Joyce Walker. Back row (l-r): Stan Harris Sr., Joe Eleazor, Shirley “Laughing Woman” Patrick, Clifford Sebastian Sr., Pedro “Silverwolf” Johnson, Myra Christensen, Kathy Knowles, Joanne “Dark Eyes” Isaac, Patricia Charity.

he Elders Council represents a wealth of Tribal Wisdom, dedication and service to the safety, culture and overall well-being of the Mashantucket Tribal community.

Phyllis Monroe Waite A Native American Matriarch

“Native Tradition of the circle teaches us that the end is only the beginning and when communication is equal, there is peace.” —Phyllis Monroe Waite

hyllis Monroe Waite, of Mashantucket Pequot/ Eastern Pequot/Narragansett Indian descent, was born on March 25, 1929, in Wakefield, Rhode Island, and passed away on October 4, 2005, at YaleNew Haven Hospital. If you were fortunate enough to know Tribal Elder Phyllis, you knew of her younggirl spirit, strong mind, and absolute dedication to Jehovah, family, and encouraging people to recognize their own abilities to excel in everything they wished to do. As a young girl growing up with her aunt and uncle in Manhattan, Phyllis was quick to learn the lesson of “buy low—sell high” when paying a penny for shopping bags and selling them for five on the busy streets of NYC. At 17, Phyllis worked as a telephone operator in the Big Apple, setting an example for her daughters, granddaughters, and other young women. Mother of seven and grandmother of 56, Phyllis stressed self-reliance and independence: “It’s important to gain self-sufficiency by establishing a career first, before beginning a family.” Phyllis worked as a nurse’s aide at South County Hospital. She was honored to be one of two women selected into this training program. Phyllis vividly remembered an underprivileged Miss Walden, a cancer patient on her deathbed screaming with pain. Nurse Phyllis asked about getting a higher dosage of medication, to no avail. She was there on the night of her death. “Miss Walden kissed my hand, moments before passing.” This incident was a turning point in Phyllis’s life. She left the practice of nursing and began campaigning for “storefront health facilities” for the underprivileged. Obtaining grant monies and doctors to volunteer services, the determined Phyllis assisted in founding South County’s first prenatal clinic and Washington County

Health Clinic, Wakefield, now named Thundermist Health Center of South County. In the early 1960s, Phyllis worked with Citizens for Advanced Negro Education (CANE), where she taught unwed mothers classes interviewing techniques. Her instruction included résumé writing, videotaping their interviews, and even helping them “dress for success” on a $2.00 budget. Aware of labels and prejudices, Phyllis

changes CANE’s name to Community Action for New Endeavors, and its mission to help underprivileged families of ALL races. Joining her brother, Clifford Sebastian, and Aunt Annie Sebastian in the late 1970s brought Phyllis back to her great-grandmother Annie George Sebastian’s home on the Reservation in Mashantucket, where she volunteered to assist in the Mashantucket Pequot Federal Recognition process. Her job was to prove her own family heritage and identify other Mashantucket Pequots, a necessary requirement set by the U.S. Federal Government to complete the process. Thanks to Phyllis’s efforts, the Tribe successfully earned Federal Recognition in 1983. It made sense to appoint Phyllis the first health director on the Reservation. Under Indian Health Services (IHS), her job was to survey the area, count Tribal residents, assess their health needs, and offer proper care. Phyllis was the first Mashantucket Pequot to become Tribal Manager of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. She founded the Peacemakers, a Tribal mediation committee with a mission to maximize harmony within the Tribe. She was a militant when it came to establishing peace among people. Surviving many years after a diagnosis of breast cancer in 1997, Phyllis was a strong believer that “the struggle brings progress.” She was honored as an active, forceful member of society who used her gifts to bring about positive change. Editor’s Note: This story was adapted from an article in The Resident, November 17–30, 2004.

The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

Gary Carter Is Proud to Be New Chairman of Elders Council

Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council Secretary Gary Carter (r) was joined by Chairman Richard “Skip” Hayward (l) and Pawnee Nation Tribal Member John Echohawk, Executive Director of the Native American Rights Fund (c); at the opening of the Mashantucket Pequot Museum, August 20, 1998.

ary Carter has been deeply immersed in his heritage as a Native American all his life. Before he came to the Mashantucket Pequot Reservation in 1983, he lived in South Kingston, Rhode Island, and was involved with his grandmother’s tribe, the Narragansetts. “I attended powwows and was in the community with my family members on that side,” he said. He also has hereditary ties to the Eastern Pequots and Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. When his grandfather’s people, the Mashantucket Pequots, achieved Federal Recognition, Gary moved to the reservation. “It was very different then— there was almost nothing here!” he said. “I lived in the apartments that were one of the first HUD program

developments on the reservations. My mom lived in a house on Elizabeth George Drive.” With all the exciting plans underway, Gary soon found plenty of work on the reservation. “I was given opportunities to work for the Tribe in constructing the health facility, building the ball field, and doing stone work,” he said. “I learned how to be a mason from my grandfather.” When the Bingo Hall was built in 1986, Gary took on the position of Director of Human Resources. “I worked there till 1991 and then started doing a lot of the hiring for Foxwoods,” he said. “I was Assistant Director of HR and then was elected to the Tribal Council.” Gary served on the Tribal Council for nine years as Secretary-Treasurer and then that position was split so he became Secretary and served until 2000. When Gary became a Tribal Elder, he ran for Elders Council and was voted in as Vice Chairman. In January of 2017, he was elected Chairman. “Our main responsibility is to protect, serve, and preserve our community,” Gary said. The Tribe currently has 117 elders, about 35 of whom attend meetings on a regular basis. “We have a number

of challenges within the elders,” Gary pointed out. “One is ensuring the elders’ financial stability. We are looking at establishing an elders’ golf tournament to raise money. We are also working with Foxwoods to provide meals to our elders. We are hoping to get some grants to help our elders have more community interaction, take cultural trips, and visit other tribes.” The Elders Council is responsible for enrollment in the Tribe. “We make sure all documentation is okay and the proper DNA testing is done,” Gary explained. The Elders Council also oversees cultural programs; one of their biggest goals is to imbue the Tribe’s children and grandchildren with a strong understanding and appreciation of their cultural identity as Pequots. “We’re lucky to have a Child Development Center,” Gary said. “That’s the age you want to capture their interest. We also want to educate the public and get more programs into schools. We have also been working with the Mohegans and Narragansetts for several years to figure out how to engage our membership in learning the native language,” Gary said. As a Tribal Elder, Gary is particularly proud that some of his kids and grandkids work for the Tribe. “They are wellversed in Native culture,” he said.

Marjorie Colebut-Jackson Has “Always Been an Elder”

arjorie Colebut-Jackson has only been of the age to be a Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Elder for a brief time, but she feels that in many ways, “I have always been an Elder.” That’s because of her nurturing heart and caring matriarch spirit, which drive everything she does in life. Marjorie was born and raised in New York City, but her father, Earl Colebut Jr., was born at Mashantucket and her mother Marjorie was from New Haven. “They moved to New York because the job opportunities were better there, but I was brought up with a strong Tribal identity,” Marjorie said. Marjorie and her nine brothers and sisters often sat around the table, learning Native American crafts and culture from their dad. The first time Marjorie made her own pair of moccasins by hand, she was so proud she wore them to school. The other kids made fun of her, but out of this pain came healing and a wonderful lesson about acceptance. “I came home crying and told Dad I didn’t want to be an Indian,”

Marjorie recalled. “He said, ‘You are going back to that school tomorrow and telling those kids how hard you worked on your moccasins and how much pride you have in your identity.’ So the next day I sat down with my teacher. I told her how hurt I was. She had me do a show-and-tell in front of the class. Before you know it, everybody wanted to be my friend! They asked a lot of questions. I got to teach them so much. It was the best thing! This experience really shaped me and made me into who I am today.” Marjorie attended Lehman College and Helene College, earning a degree in nursing. She went on the road as a traveling nurse and was living in Hawaii when Earl became ill. “My dad had moved back to the reservation. I flew out to be with him and he told me he didn’t have long. He told me it was his dream for us to move to our ancestral home and carry on the traditions and stories he had shared with us, but he didn’t want to force anyone to come.” Marjorie shared her father’s wishes with her siblings; they all decided to move to Mashantucket and in 1992 Earl passed in peace, knowing of their intentions.

Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Councilor Marjorie Colebut-Jackson celebrated in her regalia at Schemitzun,August 29-30, 2015.

Marjorie went to work for Pequot Pharmaceutical Network. She joined the Board of Directors in 1994, was appointed President, and ran the network until 2004, overseeing Tribal and employee healthcare. Marjorie served as a Tribal Councilor for 12 years. She joined the Elders Council in 2015 and on January 3, 2017, was sworn in as Vice Chairwoman. In reflecting on her new role, Marjorie said, “Things have come full circle in my life. My Dad passed the torch to me. Now it’s my time to pass that torch—to share the values, traditions, and stories he shared with me.”

The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

Celebrating the Wonder of It All! 1

1. Huge crowds gathered for the “sneak preview” of Foxwoods High-Stakes Bingo & Casino. 2. (l-r) Rick Hill, Chairman of National Gaming Association; David Hanlon, President of International Game Technology; Mickey Brown, President and CEO, Foxwoods; and entertainer Lou Rawls, cut the ribbon at Foxwoods’ new state-of-the-art slots opening. 3. (l-r) Mickey Brown, President & CEO, Foxwoods; Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Chairman Michael Thomas; and Tribal Councilor Pedro Johnson, cut the ribbon at the Racebook opening.

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4. Charles Klewin, President of Klewin Construction, was on hand to enjoy the fruits of his labor at the Grand Opening of Foxwoods’ popular Cedars Steak House. 5. (l-r) Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Councilor Pedro Johnson; Bob Zitto, President of Food & Beverage, Foxwoods; Mickey Brown, President & CEO, Foxwoods; and Tribal Elder Richard F. Sebastian, celebrated the Festival Buffet ribbon-cutting.

6. Frank Sinatra opened the Fox Theater, November 1993. 7. M P TN S pir itu al Leader Laughing Woman prayed at the Grand Opening of the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center on August 10, 1998. 8. The Mashantucket Pequots opened Two Trees Inn in July 1993, only minutes away from Foxwoods Resort Casino, to provide full-service, premier accommodations for its guests in a tranquil country setting.

The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

Celebrating the Wonder of It All! 1. Construction of the new Mashantucket Pequot Community Center was well underway on June, 1993.

2. Tribal Chairman Skip Hayward cut the ribbon at the opening of Foxwoods’ Newport Room high-roller lounge on December, 1997.

3. Internationally renowned entertainer Paul Anka helped Floyd M. “Bud” Celey, President & CEO, Foxwoods, cut the ribbon at the opening of the Grand Pequot Hotel in February 1998. 4. Tribal Councilor (now Chairman) Rodney Butler signed the last steel beam of the construction of MGM Grand at Foxwoods on March 22, 2007, in a special “topping off” ceremony.

5. Pequot River Shipworks, owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, launched the high-speed ferry Sassacus into the Thames River with the blessing of Tribal Chairman Richard “Skip” Hayward, Tribal Elder Myra Christensen, and Ken Brown, Director of Pequot River Shipworks, June 11, 1997.

6. Key members of the MTPN applauded Tribal Chairman Skip Hayward’s outstanding accomplishments at dinner in his honor.

7. MPTN Elders with famed football quarterback Joe Montana (c) celebrated the opening of Lake of Isles, the Northeast’s premier golf destination in North Stonington across from Foxwoods Resort Casino, on May 16, 2005. (l-r) Toni Parker-Johnson, Priscilla Brown, Myra Christensen, and Laura Porter.

8. Tribal Chairman Michael Thomas (c) celebrated the opening of the MGM Grand on May 16, 2008.

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The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

Timothy Walker Keeps Systems Up and Running

here are a lot of 25-year employees who have been with Foxwoods since Day One. Timothy Walker, who serves as Foxwoods’ Systems Development Manager, comes close: He’s been there for 24 years. “It’s rare in this day and age to find a company you can work for that long without having to jump ship,” Tim observed. Tim and his family were among the members of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe who moved back to the area after the Tribe received Federal Recognition in 1983. “When the Tribe got Federal Recognition, they sent out communications to all the members they knew how to find,” Tim explained. “Toward the end of 1984, my family was ready to move, so we came to Connecticut.” After Tim graduated from high school, he went to college for a while. “But I ended up joining the Air Force to pay for my college debt. There was such a lack of jobs in Southeastern Connecticut, the military was the best option to pay for college. The Tribe didn’t have the resources to pay for our college.” In the Computer Corps, Tim gained knowledge and expertise in software development, computer programming, and software testing and was involved in training IT people at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. “The Computer Corps was generally a stationary position, but I was scheduled to go to Iraq during the Gulf War and Desert Storm.

However, there was a cease fire 13 days before I was supposed to leave,” Tim explained. Tim came on board at Foxwoods in June 1993, a little more than year after the casino opened. “I first worked as a general maintenance technician for computer systems. It was an interesting job; always varied. In my current position, I maintain IT systems for 46 departments and 35 different computer

applications. Among the departments I maintain are Regulatory Oversight/ Gaming Commission, Off ice of Legal Counsel, and the Surveillance Department, which maintains the security cameras.” Tim thinks of Foxwoods as “a huge boon. When I joined the Air Force, there were no jobs in the area, but at the time I came back, Foxwoods was one year into operation and the difference in the economy was amazing! It has helped the Tribe provide a lot of different benefits, including education benefits for tribal members. I was able to finish college and get my degrees from Three Rivers and Southern New Hampshire University. My wife is also employed by the Tribe; she works for the Tribal government’s third-party administrator pharmacy system and health insurance program, Pequot Health Care. “Foxwoods is a great place to work. I get along with everybody and every day there is something new to do. And I’ve made many great friendships over the years,” Tim said.

Schemitzuns

Schemitzun, the Feast of Corn and Dance, East Coast’s largest Powwow annual celebration, where Native Americans from North America and beyond compete in several categories for more than $500,000. The festival features the Best Native American Drum, Dance, Singing, Rodeo, Arts & Crafts Competition.

The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

Crystal Whipple Does Her Grandmother Proud!

or many years, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Councilor Crystal Whipple rarely left her grandmother’s side. Phyllis Monroe Waite was a revered Elder and fierce advocate for the Tribe, and Crystal was glad to be there to help her and learn the many lessons she had to teach. “When I was around nine, we started to visit my grandmother on the reservation. Her husband was dying and we came on weekends to help out,” she recalled. “When he passed away in 1984, we moved here permanently.” After Crystal graduated from Ledyard High School, she went to work for the Tribal government. “In 1991 I got a job for our healthcare services, PRxN, as a customer service manager. I went to school part time at Three Rivers Community College, Mitchell College, and Bryant College,” she said. “I attended conferences on pharmaceutical operations and went with my grandmother to Washington D.C. all the time. When she worked at the Tribal Manager’s office, I went with her.” Phyllis passed away in 2005. “The most significant thing I learned from my grandmother was to always look out for my people and be an advocate in any way I could to support the Tribe,” Crystal said. “She encouraged me to look for opportunities to get involved with the Tribe and to help take care of our Tribal family.” Crystal realized that “everything I had done, my grandmother had directed me to do. I started to

for Tribal Council. I was elected in 2010 and served two terms. Then I worked for Councilor Daniel Menihan, concentrating on his cultural initiatives. That was one of the best years of my life.” Crystal began to consider another run at a Tribal Council position. “I thought about whether I had something of value to add and could really help the Tribe. I thought about my grandmother, who kept going even through cancer and losing her eyesight. She never stopped and worked for the Tribe until her death,” she said. In 2016, Crystal put her name back in and was reelected to her third term on Tribal Council, in the role of Secretary; she took office on January 3, 2017. “It’s an interesting and demanding job,” she said. “It’s nice to be back. I love serving the people. My goal is to serve this Council as best as I can.” Grandmother Phyllis would be proud! think about what I wanted to do and where I wanted to work.” She worked for the Tribe’s Business Advisory Board, which was focused on nongaming issues, until 2009. Then the Tribe downsized and “there was a lot of tension about our financial situation,” Crystal acknowledged. “I took a year off and then family members started to approach me about running

Monique Sebastian Keeps the Stars Coming!

s Vice President of Entertainment at Foxwoods Resort Casino, Monique Sebastian is responsible for keeping an endless stream of stars coming in and packing Foxwoods’ theaters and other venues. While hobnobbing with celebrity performers such as Marc Anthony, John Legend, Alicia Keys, Aerosmith, and Lionel Ritchie “may sound like glitz and glam, it’s actually a lot of hard work!” she said. Monique, whose dad is Tribal Elder Anthony Sebastian, came to Foxwoods in 2004. A native New Yorker who grew up in the Bronx, Monique graduated from Mercy College

with degrees in marketing and paralegal and planned to become an entertainment lawyer. “I took my LSATs and then decided to take a break before starting law school. A job opened up here and I applied. I worked as the assistant to Tom Cantone. I loved the job and the people I worked with so much that I stayed here,” Monique said. Monique has been head of the Entertainment Department for five years now, managing a team of 139, including ushers and casuals. She oversees about 300 shows per year, including long-running production shows, concerts, kids’ entertainment, and comedy shows, as well as the fabulous parties such luaus, toga parties, and the “liquid entertainment” Sunday pool parties, still wildly popular after six years. “The pool parties give people a taste of Vegas and are a great way to spend a Sunday,” she said. Monique loves everything about her job, from managing people to marketing to contract negotiations. “My staff puts such hard work and dedication into everything they do and I strive to keep them happy and engaged. I love the contract negotiations because it’s very exciting to get the act you want for the price you want!” she said. Monique is super-excited about Foxwoods’ year-long 25th anniversary bash,

which will kick off on February 15th with the cutting of a “massive” birthday cake at 2:00. “We’re building a huge celebration zone in the concourse that will be divided into four quadrants,” she explained. “We’ll be giving away more than $250,000 worth of prizes including Rolex watches, Tiffany jewelry, virtual reality headsets, and T-shirts. We’ll have interactive oversized playing cards and stacks of cash people can take selfies with. There will be two free shows, with Smokey Robinson in the Grand Theater and Kesha in the Fox Theater. This is our way to thank everybody for their patronage over the last 25 years! Calls have been coming in from everywhere. It’s good to have so many people wanting to come to our property to help us celebrate our milestone!” Foxwoods is all about “coming here, having a good time, and making new memories,” Monique said. With all the fantastic performers she and her team have lined up for this 25th anniversary year—including Rascal Flatts, John Fogarty, Steve Winwood, John Legend, Marc Anthony, Amy Schumer, and Idina Menzel—there will be “no better place to be this year!” Monique said.

The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

Foxwoods HR

The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

Dale Merrill Always Improving the Workplace Environment

ashantucket Pequot Tribal member Dale Merrill is proud to be part of the Executive Committee at Foxwoods. As Vice President of Human Resources, Dale is responsible for the programs and policies that bring in great new people and keep them happy on the job. Dale grew up in New London but was always aware of her Mashantucket Pequot heritage. “When I was in high school, my mother moved us from New London to Ledyard and I got to know my cousins from the reservation. In 1994 I was officially sworn in to the Tribe. I developed a tighter connection with my family and took a job with the Tribe,” she said. After high school, Dale took some courses in General Studies at UCONN. She also had two baby boys. She loved motherhood but she also knew she wanted a fulfilling career. “The Tribe was focused on the development of its people and had a career planning department,” Dale said. “I was interested in psychology and loved helping people, so I was originally directed to the social services department. I realized this was a piece of what I wanted to do, but I also wanted to play a more strategic role in our business. They suggested Human Resources, so I went to work in several different areas at our HR department. I realized I needed to finish my degree if I wanted

to move further on, but I was married and about to have my third child. Fortunately, the Tribe had a program that allowed me to go back to school while balancing motherhood. So in 1996 I went back to school and the Tribe supplemented my income.” Dale finished her degree from UCONN in General Studies. She also worked in a number of different jobs for Foxwoods and the Tribe, including in the Creative

Scott Ferguson Hires

s Manager of Recruitment at Foxwoods, Scott Ferguson is in charge of hiring for all government jobs, gaming enterprises, and food and beverage services. With a total of 6500 full and part-time people on board, that’s a lot of hiring! A Pawcatuck native, Scott is a day one Foxwoods employee. He attended St. Bernard’s High School, Northeastern University, Three Rivers Community College, and worked in local restaurants such as Harbor View and Skipper’s Dock. Then one day, his parents told him about a casino being planned and suggested he apply. “I interviewed and got an offer to become a sous chef at Pequot Grille and Al Dente restaurant,” Scott said. “I made sandwiches at the Bingo Hall for two months, and then the casino was ready to open. The night before, we did a gala event for 2000 people, and the next night the casino opened. It was pretty chaotic but we were prepared. Some

people couldn’t handle it though; they’d go on break and never come back!” Of course, Scott was one of the ones who hung in there, working 16-hour shifts with little sleep in between. “I couldn’t wait to get back.” he said. Foxwoods gastronomic offerings grew by leaps and bounds, and Scott was soon in charge of hiring, staffing and placement for a culinary staff of 650. “I started by attending job and career fairs, local schools, including Johnson and Wales, and did interviewing two days a week. I also did international recruitment,” he said. Scott is thrilled that after a slower period, Foxwoods is hiring again; “We’ve hired close to 1500 people this past year,” he reported. Working at Foxwoods has been “an awesome opportunity,” Scott said. “It’s been a great adventure to watch Foxwoods grow. Everything is new, bigger, and better. I like the people I work with and the challenge never stops!”

Arts, Public Relations, and Internal Communications departments, and as an assistant to Kenny Reels. “In 2006, I rejoined the HR team at Foxwoods,” Dale said. “Then an opportunity for the Director of Employment job came up in 2008 as we were opening MGM, so I applied. I was responsible for the training and development of our team members in compliance, sexual harassment prevention, guest services, and applications.” Dale went back to college and in 2012, she earned a Master’s Degree in HR Development from Villanova. “I decided that if I wanted to do my position justice and feel comfortable in the role, I wanted to commit to at least that level of education,” she said. Dale was promoted to VP in 2014. “What I like best about the job is that it’s such a dynamic environment,” Dale said. “We are always planning ways to improve the workplace experience. When we hire someone, we hope they will stay. We want to live up to our promise as the employer as much as we want them to live up to their expectations as an employee.”

Tawny Gagne Serves

oxwoods wants every guest to have a fabulous experience, which includes plenty of “eating, drinking, and being merr y.” Director of Food and Beverage Tawny Gagne is more than happy to oblige! Tawny has a talent for pleasing even the toughest customers— such as the late Frank Sinatra, who visited in November of 1994. “I was nine months pregnant with my daughter Mackenzie at the time,” she recalled. “I went to a local grocery store to get all the special things he wanted. Then he had dinner at Han Garden and got upset because his espresso wasn’t the way he wanted it. He stood up at the table and said he was going to go make his own. I asked him to please sit down and told him I’d have our Italian restaurant, Al Dente, make him another one. He sat back down. I brought him a new espresso, which he liked. “A couple members of his entourage told me it was the first time anyone had gotten him to sit

down!” Tawny recalled. “Afterward, we heard he had a great time here and really liked the service we gave him!” Sinat ra was only one of many stars who visit Foxwoods, but Tawny often doesn’t notice them as she scurries to and fro. “I’m usually just focused on my customer service mission at the moment,” said the Johnson & Wales graduate. Tawny started working for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation when Foxwoods Resort Casino was still only a gleam in Skip Hawyard’s eye. “I started in November 1991 working as Restaurant Manager in the Bingo Hall,” she explained. It wasn’t long before she was promoted to Food and Beverage Director, a position she has held for more than 25 years; she supervises approximately 200 employees. “I empower my team to be the best they can be,” she said. “I tell them, ‘Always do the right thing for the person in front of you. We want to make sure we serve a superior product and make everybody happy!’”

The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

Chris O’Connell

ike his fellow longterm employees at Foxwoods, Chris O’Connell is thrilled to still be with the organization that has given him so many fantastic opportunities. As Vice President of Development and Resort Services, Chris has had quite an exciting journey since he came on board more than two decades ago—and it’s not over yet! “I moved to Ledyard in 1982 as a sophomore and graduated from Ledyard High School. Then I went to Bryant University as a hotel major,” Chris recalled. “There wasn’t a lot of work here for a hotel major at the time, but I found a job at the Best Western in Groton and got my feet wet in hospitality.” Chris heard that the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation was starting construction for the Two Trees Inn, so he hightailed it over to Foxwoods. “I was hired as a restaurant supervisor in the buffet in February 1993, when Mickey Brown was CEO, and worked there for three-and-a-half months. Then I was part of the preopening team for Two Trees; we opened July 4th weekend.”

Chris’s long hospitality career at Foxwoods took him from Two Trees to the Great Cedar Hotel, where he held 11 dif ferent m a n age m e nt positions, to the Grand Pequot Hotel, the Hilton in Mystic (which was owned by the Tribe), and back to Foxwoods, where he was hired as Director of Hotel Operations at the MGM Grand in 2007. “Jason Guyot and I interviewed every employee for every position at the MGM Grand. We were looking for a very high level of customer service and we delivered that out of the gate,” he recalled. Chris was promoted to VP of Hotels Operations before he took his current position. “I have had a wonderful career here. I couldn’t ask for anything more from the Tribe and from this enterprise,” he said. “The experience and learning I’ve been able to acquire is amazing. I have so much gratitude to the Tribe for these opportunities—it’s beyond words. Many other employees here feel the same way. I don’t

Brian Charette Is Hi-Tech

r ia n C ha ret te is Vice President of Information Technology for Foxwoods Resort Casino and t he M a s ha nt ucket Pequot Tribal Nation. Brian is responsible for the Strategic Planning, Technology Infrastructure, Project Management, Application Development, Support, and Operations of Foxwoods’ technology portfolio as well as other business interests of MPTN. Brian first joined Foxwoods in June of 1994 as an MIS User Liaison. In 1996 Brian left the company for 8 months to help found End 2 End, a technology company pioneering the next generation of in-room

interactive entertainment systems. Brian rejoined Foxwoods in 1997 and has held numerous technology positions during his tenure. He was named Director of Gaming Systems in 1998 and Executive Director of Resort Systems in 2002. In 2006, Brian was named Vice President of Information Technology. Brian is currently an advisory board member of Gaming & Leisure Magazine. He has previously served on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Technology Council, the United Way of S.E. CT, and CT Adoption and Family Services.

Leon Jacobs Comments

eon Jacobs served as Tribal Manager for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, October 1994 – June 2004. A member of the Lumbee Tribal Nation and leader in Indian Country, Leon comments, “I view Foxwoods as ‘the miracle’ of Indian Country.” “Tribal Chairman Skip Hayward’s vision and direction opened the door for hundreds of other Tribes to expand their businesses and employment opportunities giving way to healthy Tribal Nations.” “My congratulations to MPTN and to Foxwoods for 25 years of success!”

Mike Witty Mike Whitty Makes Sure Foxwoods Stays Safe and Beautiful

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s Vice President of Engineering/ Projects, Mike Whitty has a load of responsibilities on his shoulders—and s Vice President that’s just of theEngineering/ way he likesProjects, it! He’s inMike charge Whitty of strategic has a load of planning responsibilities of Foxwoods’onEngineering his shoulders—and Department that’s just the way capital he likes projects it! He’s proin charge of gram and strategic planning Internal for Foxwoods’ Landscaping, Engineering which includes Department capital oversight, projects planning, program and coordinating, Internal Landscaping, and budgeting which for includes all overmaintenance, sight, planning, new coordinating, projects, and and renbudgeting ovations for all maintenance, of the Resort new and projects, Casino and renproperty.of ovations Whew! the Resort and Casino property. Whew! Mike started with Foxwoods 20 Mike yearsstarted ago in with the Foxwoods Engineering 20 years ago in Department. the EngineeringHe Department. rose through He rose the through ranks the ranks after after holding holding many many positions positions in the in the Engineering Engineering Department Department includinginPlumbing/ cluding Plumbing/Kitchen Kitchen Manager, Assistant Manager, Director, Director, Assistant and Executive Director, Director. Director, He also and served as Executive Director. Chairman of Foxwoods’ He alsoCentral served Safety as Chairman of Foxwoods’ Program. Before joining the Central Foxwoods team, Safety Program. Before joining industry the Mike worked in the construction and Foxwoodsateam, Mike worked in the managed Fire Protection Company. construction industry and managed a Fire Protection Company. Mike oversees a team of 260 hardworking folks that include plumbers, carpenters, electricians, environmental specialists, and HVAC

Mike oversees a team of 260 hardworking folks that includes plumbers, carpenters, electricians, environmental specialists, and HVAC technicians.

“We do all the carpeting, tiling, internal landscaping, reconfigurations, and decorating for the holidays. Our renovation projects include putting in a new high-speed slot floor. When there’s a problem, such as a liquid spill on the concourse, our dispatch center gets it taken care of. We also have a hotel rehab program, with painters, electricians, and plumbers constantly working to keep everything at our hotels looking and operating like new.” Construction is always going on at Foxwoods, and Mike oversees the process of getting Tribal approval for plans, bringing great contractors on board, connecting new tenants to electrical, plumbing, and safety systems, and making sure the spaces are beautifully designed. “We work with so many great partners,” he pointed out, mentioning AZ, D’Amato and Seaman and DeCarlo. “I truly enjoy what I do here, the people I work with, and working for the Tribe,” Mike said. “The last 20 years have been great fun!”

The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue February 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

Robert Hayward Helped Pave the Roads To Success

s a member of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the youngest sibling of Richard “Skip” Hayward, Bobby Hayward learned about the importance of “holding onto the land” from an early age. He not only helped his Tribe hold onto it, he helped them clear it, build upon it, and then protect what they had built. “We came up to Mashantucket during the summers to visit my grandmother, Elizabeth George, when I was a kid,” recalled Bobby, who was born in Quonset Point, Rhode Island, and moved around a lot due to his dad’s military career. “We were living on the DelawareMaryland Peninsula when my grandmother died. There was only one old house and a couple of trailers on the reservation at the time. She had always told us to hold onto the land, so that fall we moved up to the ‘res.’” Bobby was 10 years old at the time. Skip, who became Tribal Council Chairman, was the one with “the vision and the courage” to bring Tribal members back and start developing the land, Bobby said. “There were no roads up here, just lots of boulders. We cleared a lot of trees and started turning the old deer trails into roads. We sold firewood, raised pigs, and made maple syrup. These ventures were not very profitable, but they brought our families together through sweat equity and helped build community.”

Bobby graduated from Ledyard High School and became the Tribe’s Assistant Director of Road Maintenance. “The roads were still dirt and needed to be paved. Skip acquired more land to put into trust for the reservation. We built more houses and the Bingo Hall,” he explained. Bobby’s first job at the Bingo Hall was as Assistant Director of Security. “Skip was very good at seeing people’s skills and putting them into the right jobs. It was natural for me to be in security

because I was always watching over everything like a hawk!” he said. Soon the Bingo Hall was bringing in $1 million per year, Elizabeth George Drive was full of houses, and Foxwoods Resort Casino was being transformed from a vision to a reality. Bobby trained to work in the fledgling Gaming Commission. “I went to school and learned all the games, rules, and regulations and started as a Gaming Inspector.” Bobby became the only Tribal member to hold the chairmanship of the Gaming Commission, leaving in 2005 to work on the executive staff with Skip until 2008. In spring of 2016, he came back to take the new position of State Government Affairs Manager. “The new department combines public and legislative affairs,” Bobby explained. “It’s a good fit for me because I know the organization inside and out, I know the history, and I know the local townsfolk and state reps.” One of the projects Bobby is currently involved with is a joint project with the Mohegans to build another casino, still in the planning stages. “I’m glad to be in this position,” Bobby said. “It gives me a new opportunity to help the Tribe.”

MPTN Chairman Rodney Butler (r) presents a gold bar to Felix Rappaport, President and CEO of Foxwoods to commemorate Foxwoods Resort Casoino’s 24-KT Anniversary, February 15, 2016.

Mashantucket Pequot Game & Athletic Commissioner Kenny Reels is inducted into the CT Boxing Hall of Fame, with his support team by his side, November 4, 2016.

Michael “Mickey” Brown with Foxwoods’ first United Way baby, Mackenzie Gagne, daughter of Tawny Gagne, a 25 year employee.

The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

Celebrity Cruises congratulates the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation on 25 years of success at Foxwoods Resort Casino.

The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

The Place Where Magic Happens 1. Ol’ Blue Eyes Frank Sinatra, opening Fox Theater, Nov. 1994.

2. Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas on the red carpet, MGM Grand opening, May 17th, 2008. 3. Gloria Estefan at MGM Grand opening, May 17, 2008. 4. Rihanna. 5. Evander Holyfield - John Ruiz WBA heavyweight championship, Dec. 15th, 2001.

6. Sugar Ray Leonard interviews with the Resident, May, 2004.

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7. After his March 4th, 2000 stand-up comedy show at Fox Theater, Jay Leno is filling in the check for Foxwoods Resort Casino jackpot winner, Patte Rogers, and her husband Jim. Patte won $114,766.07 on a Betty Boop Thrillions slot machine.

8. Kevin Bacon with his band, Bacon brothers, 2006. 9. “There’s No Place Like Home and No Place like Foxwoods,” says legendary B.B. King, before opening of B.B. King Dance and Nite Club, November, 2001.

10. Celtics Legend Enrie DiGregario at MGM Grand opening, May 17, 2008.

11. (l-r) Felix Rappaport, President & CEO of Foxwoods, Marjorie Colebut-Jackson, Celebrity Chef Guy Fieri and Jean Swift, Treasurer, Tirbal Council and Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council Rodney Butler at a special event held on advance of the opening of Guy Fieri’s Foxwoods Kitchen + Bar at Foxwoods Resort Casino, October 15, 2016.

The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

THE MOHEGAN TRIBE AND MOHEGAN SUN CONGRATULATE THE MASHANTUCKET PEQUOT TRIBAL NATION AND FOXWOODS RESORT CASINO ON 25 YEARS FILLED WITH WONDER!

The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

Customer Service Is the Name of the Game for Wayne Theiss!

ayne Theiss is Foxwoods’ Vice President of Ta b l e Games, Poker, Keno, Racebook, and Bingo. But he started out as a day-one employee on the front lines—and that’s the only way to do it in the gaming industry. “You have to come up through the ranks. You have to know what the dealers go through, what the customers go through, and all the rules and regulations,” he said. A New Jersey native, Wayne did a four-year stint in the U.S. Army and then worked as a dealer in Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and back to Atlantic City. Then a friend heard about this new casino being built by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation in the woods of Connecticut. They came up to check it out and decided to take a gamble. “I knew Foxwoods was going to be a gold mine. I’ve never looked back!” Wayne said. “Craps is the game I like best. It moves fast and there’s so much action,” Wayne said, “although I like all the games. We have a lot

of novelty games now, progressive table games that players can hit for a very large amount of money.” Way ne enjoys everything about his job. “There’s something new every day,” he said. Customer service is the most important part of the job, he stressed. “We adapt to our customers’ needs. People who come in regularly want recognition and that’s what we give them. We call them by name, get them right in, make sure they have everything they need. The games are the same anywhere you go. It’s the people and the quality of customer service that really differentiate Foxwoods from our competitors. “When I first started, the Tribe said, ‘You no longer work for a corporation. You work for a family now. We have better benefits, better everything, than anywhere else. They have kept their word for 25 years. You can’t ask for any better than that!”

(l-r) Felix Rappaport, President and CEO Foxwoods, NAACP Honoree Vice Chairman MPTN Gaming Commission Kenneth Reels, and MPTN Chairman Kenny Reels, Rodney Butler, celebrate at the New London NAACP Annual Freedom Fund Dinner. Kenneth was among a number of inspirational people, honored.

MPTN Chairman Rodney Butler. Secretary Marjorie ColebutJackson, Joyce Walker, Chairwoman, Elders Council, Chef Frank Iglesias, Treasurer Jean Swift. Cake by Frank opening, March, 2016.

Sam Gejdenson Instrumental in Legislation

ormer Connecticut and US Representative (1981-2001) Sam Gejdenson was instrumental in creating and passing the legislation which paved the way for the long overdue re-establishment of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Union, and the creation of the phenomenon now known as Foxwoods Resort and Casino. Gejdenson condenses hundreds of years of history and politics and hear-say into a very simple explanation, namely that the evolution of Foxwoods was the result of three specific events, each long and separate in the making, but all culminating in the early 1980s. Firstly, Gejdenson points to the Maine Indian Settlement Agreement (1980), in which the Passamaquoddy Tribe and Penobscot Indian Nation won their suit against the federal government and the State of Maine. Though they originally sued Maine for 2/3 of the state, they agreed to a settlement

of 81.5 million. This settlement was not only the largest, historically, of its kind, but also the first to include provisions for the reacquisition of land. Secondly and simultaneously is the fact that the Maine tribes won their case utilizing the Nonintercourse Act of 1790 (also know as the Indian Intercourse Act). Though the N.A. had been used before in federal cases, what makes the Maine agreement significant is that it had formerly only been implemented with western Indians; this was the first time that it had been applied to eastern tribes. The third factor was the politics of the Reagan Administration, largely influenced by then Secretary of the Interior James Watt. Swayed by Watt’s belief that reservations should be phased out altogether (he believed that reservations were a failed system and a financial drain to the government), Reagan vetoed the first Mashantucket Pequot Recognition Act, arguing that both federal funding and regulations should be reduced. After further negotiation, in 1983 the administration signed the Bill which became the Mashantucket Pequot Indian Land Claim Settlement Act, which granted the tribe federal recognition and enabled them re-purchase and place trust in their land. It also allowed them more autonomy, as the Reagan Administration, for their own self-serving reasons, wanted to reduce excessive regulations (and federal responsibility).

And the rest becomes legend and history at the same time. In 1986 the Bingo Hall opened, followed by the High-Stakes Casino. Governor Lowell Weicker, who had long been negotiating with the Pequots, struck the deal which granted the state 25% of the proceeds from the slot revenue, and with the help of Representative Gejdenson and Senator Christopher Dodd the bills were passed through the CT House of Representatives and Senate. Though the tribe initially wanted to purchase more neighboring lands and provide more services and attractions and jobs, opposition, largely fueled by the fear of development and changes to these sleepy, quiet towns of southeastern CT prevented them from completing proposed projects like a 6-Flags Amusement Park and Movie Studio Complex in neighboring towns. In fact, if Gejdenson has any regrets at all it is about the lost economic possibilities wrought by local opposition to the Pequot’s potential and vision. After nearly 30 years of public service these days Sam Gejdenson can be found happily using a bulldozer or baling hay with is brother Ike on their family farm in Bozrah. About his work supporting and advocating for the Mashantucket Pequots he says “I look at all of it and figure on the scales of justice it was a fair deal.”

The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

CONGRATULATIONS Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation on 25 years of success at Foxwoods Resort Casino. Thank you for helping make our community a great place.

M YST I C A Q U A R I U M . O R G

The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

Tribal Life

Foxwoods’ Logo Tells the Story of the Tribe W

hen the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe planned Foxwoods Resort and Casino, it was important to them that the new facility would reflect their Tribal culture. Nowhere is this more evident than in the beautifully designed company logo. A clear sky frames a majestic tree perched atop a rocky knoll, which represents Mashantucket – the “much wooded land.” It was here that the people indigenous to the region hunted and prospered. The symbol across the sloping land is the sign of Robin Cassacinamon, the first Pequot sachem or chief, to serve after the fiery massacre of hundreds of Tribal members at their Mystic fort during the Pequot War of 1637. Cassacinamon led his people until his death in 1692, helping them determine how to survive and preserve their culture. The fox is a reminder of the “turbulent times when the Pequots adopted the name that endures today and for all time – “The Fox People.” It is the Tribe’s hope that those who see this logo when they visit Foxwoods will take a moment to reflect on their history as a proud, resilient, and enduring people.

Some of the venerable leaders of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. (l-r) Elders Council Chairwoman Joyce Walker, Elder Joey Carter Sr., Tribal Chairman Rodney Butler, Elder Nafeezah Shabazz, and Elders Council Chairman Elect Gary Carter Sr. at the 2016 Veterans Day Celebration in Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center.

1. The late Tribal Elders Emanuel Sebastian and John Perry Sr. celebrating Grand Opening of Foxwoods Tower, July 3, 1997. 2. Tribal Councilman Kenneth Reels and Tribal members conducted the ribbon cutting ceremony for Mashantucket Pequot Spiritual Center, October 2004.

3. Foxwoods Employees Celebrate 10 years, April 2002. 4. During the tenth anniversary celebration of the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center (MPMRC), Kimberly Hatcher-White, executive director, MPMRC, said, “The first time I walked into this building, I fell in love!” August 11, 2008.

5. MPTN Tribal Elder Pat Charity, Clifford Sebastian and Councilwoman Marjorie Colebut-Jackson at Foxwoods’ $700 Million Expansion, November 15, 2005.

The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

Community Spirit 1. Carmen Electra with Scott Kritz from FHM Magazine, winner of the charity poker game, May 2006.

2. It was all in for Will Kerr, graphic designer at The Resident at the Foxwoods Media Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament. Lady Luck herself, Alexis Ann, editor and publisher of the Resident, and Terry Chiaradio, director of Poker at Foxwoods Resort Casino, hold the check for $550, which will be donated to the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center. 3. Richard “Skip” Hayward (r) signing a $5 million check to Mystic Marinelife Aquarium, (l) Hugh P. Connell, June 1996.

4. Barbara Poirier, president, Otis Library Board of Trustees, and Council Vice Chairman Kenneth Reels from MPTN, Toni Parker Johnson, Tribal Elder, MPTN, slide the curtain back and unveil the name of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Information Center at Otis Library. The Tribe donated $1 million to the library, April 2007. 5. Councilors Rodney Butler, Treasurer and Richard E. Sebastian presented a check for $25,000 to Mary Kessler, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, New Haven, January 16th, 2008.

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6. Felix Rappaport, President and CEO, Foxwoods Resort Casino, and Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council Chairman Rodney Butler, spread holiday cheer in New London in support of the United Way and the Tommy Toy Fund. Nearly 15,000 toys were collected and donated to local children and families as part of Foxwoods’ 3rd Annual Stuff the Bus Campaign. 7. (l-r) Joe Letellier, executive director, Mashantucket Tribal Nation Athletic Commission, shakes hands with Len Johnson, Chairman, Preston Parks and Recreation Committee, after presenting a check of $8,500, October 28, 2003. 8. (l-r) Tribal Councilors Rodney Butler and Charlene Jones, with Foxwoods President, John O’Brien present the check to Carol L. Mahier, Executive Director of Hospise of Southeastern CT, March 21, 2007.

The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

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Our business is reporting the good news of MPTN and Foxwoods since 1992. The Resident Team is honored to present this commemorative insert celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Foxwoods Resort Casino. Alexis Ann Editor & Publisher Anna Trusky Anastasia Lange Penny Newbury Lisa Starr Mike “Kicking Bear” Johnson Special Thanks to John Holder, Lori Potter and Ashley Polo for their consult.

The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017

CongratulationsOn OnYour Your25th! 25th! Congratulations

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