The California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA), the largest tribal gaming association in the state, announced today the election of Daniel J. Tucker to the position of chairman and Steve Stallings to the position of the organization's treasurer.
Leon Benner, from the Redding Rancheria, a tribe that denies civil rights to many members of its tribe, was reelected Eastern Representative and Cody Martinez, Treasurer of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, was elected as Southern Representative.
Chairman Tucker, who is also the chairman of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, of which Governor Schwarzenegger lied to the state about their compact for expanded gaming, previously served as chairman of CNIGA between 1995 and 2001. He was at the helm during the organization's formative years and led it through many of tribal gaming's most significant milestones in California including the Proposition 5 and 1A campaigns and the original round of compacting with the state in 1999 in which 61 tribes signed agreements. These propositions led to many tribes such as Pechanga, Picayune, Redding and Enterprise among others to ELIMINATE many of their tribal members to engorge their wallets with extra per capita monies.
"I would also like to acknowledge the good work done by Anthony Miranda (brother of Pechanga Development Corporations David Miranda)during his six-year term as Chairman of the organization. Miranda's hard work and dedication steered the organization through a significant developmental phase and helped create prosperity throughout Indian Country."
Stallings, a tribal council member of the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians, brings a wealth of experience to the CNIGA treasurer's position. He is currently the senior vice-president and Director of the Native American Banking Services group for Wells Fargo.
Both Chairman Tucker and Treasurer Stallings were elected to two-year terms.
Founded in 1988, the California Nations Indian Gaming Association is a non-profit association comprised of federally recognized tribal governments dedicated to the protection of tribal sovereignty and the right of tribes to conduct gaming on their lands. Tribal government gaming operations currently employ more than 58,000 Californians. Tribes like Pechanga have had to eliminate workers with the poor economy. Many tribes have dropped out of CNIGA: Dropping long-held memberships in recent years include: Pechanga; Cabazon Band of Mission Indians; Torres Martinez Band of Desert Cahuilla Indians; Twentynine Palms Band of Mission Indians; Soboba Band of Mission Indians; and Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians.
No comments:
Post a Comment