SANTA BARBARA, California – (PRESS RELEASE) -- The California Nations
Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) will hold a historic all-day economic
summit on June 28 in Santa Barbara entitled "Challenges to Opportunities
and Success." The summit will feature representatives from several
California tribal governments and is a follow-up to a promise that CNIGA
chairman Anthony Miranda made in his State of the Tribal Nations address to
take steps to bring real and sustainable economic development to Indian
country.
"We want to bring to bear the collective talents and wisdom of all
tribal governments in California on the issue of creating sustainable
economies," said Miranda.
Many tribes are looking to diversify their economies by using gaming
funds to kick-start other business ventures. The summit will provide a
forum for tribes to discuss with each other which plans have proven most
successful and what potential barriers to success may exist.
Since the challenges of tribal economic development extend beyond
California, the goal of the summit is to gather a set of recommendations
from the attendees to give to such national organizations as the National
Congress of American Indians and the National Indian Gaming Association.
The summit will be preceded by CNIGA's signature golf tournament at the
Sandpiper Golf Course on Tuesday. Santa Barbara area tribe, the Santa Ynez
Band of Chumash Indians, will be the title sponsor of the tournament.
Attendance to the summit is free but space is limited.
What: "Challenges to Opportunities and Success" economic development
summit at CNIGA's Mid Year Conference
Who: Tribal governments, tribal gaming operators and industry
professionals
When: Wednesday June 28, 2006, registration begins at 9 a.m. Program
will begin at 9:45.
Where: The Biltmore - Four Seasons Resort, 1260 Channel Drive Santa
Barbara, CA 93108