CALIFORNIA – (PRESS RELEASE) -- A crowd of over six hundred
comprised of tribal leaders and other assorted guests gathered at the
Pechanga Resort & Casino for the 12th Annual Western Indian Gaming
Conference to watch California Nations Indian Gaming Association Chairman
Anthony Miranda give the annual State of the Tribal Nations Address.
"You can be proud that our industry -- which you built -- employs more
than 56,000 Californians. You can be proud that Indian gaming is bringing
hope and opportunity to tens of thousands across the state," said Chairman
Miranda during the Address.
Chairman Miranda listed the tribal accomplishments over the past year
while also cautioning that tribes still have a difficult time ahead before
all of California's tribal nations can realize the promise of
self-reliance.
Among the tribal accomplishments of the past year that Chairman Miranda
outlined in the address was the opening of dialogue with California
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, which resulted in a commitment to create a
tribal liaison in the governor's office. Other accomplishments include
tribes joining forces with the state's business and labor communities to
approve infrastructure bonds. On the federal level, Miranda noted the joint
effort with the National Indian Gaming Association to block attempts to
amend the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
Miranda issued five initiatives for the coming year:
1. Alluding to the efforts of President Franklin Roosevelt to ease
economic disparities, Miranda issued a challenge to extend economic
benefits to all California Indians.
2. Miranda also asked for the "members of CNIGA to create an Economic
Development Task Force in the coming weeks composed of representatives
from academia, business and government to come up with recommendations
to improve the economic conditions of tribes in California."
3. Ensure that the promise of revenue sharing with non-gaming tribes
continues to be fulfilled and is backfilled in case of a shortfall.
4. Address the issue of problem gaming in a comprehensive manner, with all
segments, and not just Indian gaming, at the table. Currently, Indian
gaming is the only sector that subsidizes problem gambling programs and
Miranda would like other gaming sectors to become involved to create a
more comprehensive program.
5. Create broad-based and lasting coalitions and find common ground with
other organizations and groups. Miranda also issued a plea for tribal
unity and cited past successes to illustrate how much more effective
the results have been when tribes worked together than when they go it
alone.
"Worthy goals require patience, commitment and courage."
Miranda concluded his speech with an acknowledgement that not all
tribal ills will be erased in the coming year, however, he pointed to the
progress that has already been made and asked whether California tribes
will seize the tremendous growth potential in California, in the coming
decades.
"Our home state of California expects to grow 30 percent over the next
20 years. Will our tribes be positioned to seize the opportunities that
such tremendous growth provides?"