April 26 - Seminole Tribe of Florida

11A • The Seminole Tribune • April 26, 2013NATIONAL NATIVE NEWSBasketball daughters bringpride to Umatilla ReservationPhoto courtesy of Associated PressMISSION, Ore. — Even thoughpowerhouse Connecticut rolled all overLouisville, winning 90-62 in the NCAAwomen’s basketball championshiprecently, fans in Indian Country havebeen honored by the two athletic NativeAmerican sisters from a reservation innortheast Oregon who led the LouisvilleCardinals into the NCAA finals.Umatilla Indian Tribal membersShoni Schimmel, a junior guard, and hersister Jude, a sophomore guard, haveachieved rock-star status in Mission,and nearby Pendleton, and are knownto American Indians across NorthAmerica, where their exploits as collegebasketball stars have been broadcast allover the world; not to mention glorifiedin the outstanding documentary about theSchimmels, Off the Rez, which premieredin 2011.Family friend Connie Sams describeda typical scene following a game: “Whenthe game was over you go outside and youcould hear people cheering. All the kidsin the neighborhood had a basketball andwere outside shooting. You know theywere pretending they were Shoni and Jude– the boys and girls the same.”In fact, the two athletes havepioneered a style of all-out basketballcalled “Rez ball” that formed the spine ofthe Louisville 2013 team.“They’re just paving the way for anew generation of kids that are going tobe like, ‘Yeah, that’s awesome they cando that,’” said Shana Radford, anotherfriend. “They’re on ESPN; they’re doinginterviews. It’s just so cool to see themin the mainstream, to see Natives in themainstream. It’s just never been done. It’shistory.”During the NCAA Tournament, JudeSchimmel was awarded the NCAA Elite89 award, which honors the individual whohas reached the pinnacle of competition atthe national championship level in his orher sport, while also achieving the highestacademic standard among his or her peers.The Elite 89 is presented to the studentathletewith the highest cumulative gradepoint average participating at the finals sitefor each of the NCAA’s championships.Schimmel, who is majoring insociology, currently carries a 3.737 GPA –the highest GPA among all players in theNCAA women’s basketball Final Four.– OBP.orgPoarch Band squares offagainst Attorney GeneralMONTGOMERY, Ala. — AlabamaAttorney General Luther Strange’s“strange” lawsuit against the PoarchBand of Creek Indians has been movedto Federal District Court, where the Tribehas demanded it be dismissed.Two months ago, Strange askedan Elmore County Circuit Court Judgeto shut down the Poarch Band’s threecasinos as “a public nuisance.” The slotstyle,electronic bingo machines used atthe casinos are illegal in Alabama, Strangesaid. The Poarch Band, though, contendsthat the state’s lawsuit is preempted bythe federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act(IGRA).Even if the state did have legalstanding to sue a sovereign nation, saidthe Poarch Creek motion, it could not usea state “nuisance claim” as a way aroundthe IGRA.– AL.comCounty backs Fort Sill ApacheTribe’s casino planDEMING, N.M. — Doña AnaCounty commissioners unanimouslyOK’d a statement of support for the FortSill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma’s plan fora casino in an adjacent county.– El Paso TimesOklahoma, Cheyenne andArapaho Tribes ink casino dealOKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. —The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes tookdown their free-play Internet gamingsite, PokerTribes.com, after the state ofOklahoma refuted their right to operate it,under terms of their compact.But the parties reached a newagreement allowing the Tribes to re-launchthe site for real money bets if the websiteis exclusive to players outside the U.S.and if the Tribes pay the state 20 percentof the proceeds. Oklahoma Gov. MaryFallin and Cheyenne and Arapaho TribesGov. Janice Prairie-Chief Boswell signedthe agreements in an April 5 ceremony atthe state Capitol in Oklahoma City.The home page of PokerTribes.com currently states the real-time, realmoneywebsite will go live this summeron “the web, mobile, iPad, laptop, desktopand apps near you.” And the website,developed and managed by UniversalEntertainment Group, won’t be relegatedto poker. It will offer a variety of casinogames like bingo, blackjack and pull-tabs.The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribesoperate two brick-and-mortar casinos inthe state, both named Luck Star Casino, inConcho and Clinton.– ICTMN.comHard Rock acquires optionson land for traffic planWEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. —Hard Rock International has takenout options to buy three properties onMemorial Avenue in West Springfield aspart of its plans to improve traffic flow toa proposed $700- to $800-million casinoproject on land along the east side of theEastern States Exposition campus, part ofa $35-million-plus traffic plan that HardRock CEO James Allen said will not onlyhandle anticipated casino traffic, but alsoimprove existing traffic patterns.“We are truly trying to be part ofthe community, enhancing the existinginfrastructure to make it better for allgoing forward,” Allen said.– MassLive.comNIGC named one of bestgovernment places to workWASHINGTON, D.C. — TheNational Indian Gaming Commission(NIGC) was recognized as one of the bestsmall agencies to work for in the federalgovernment, so said a survey by thenonprofit Partnership for Public Service.NIGC’s No. 11 ranking (among 362federal agencies and subcomponentswith less than 100 employees) was thecommission’s highest since the index wasdeveloped.– NIGC.govAlaska Tribes win land trust suitversus Secretary of InteriorWASHINGTON, D.C. — AWashington, D.C. district court hasfound that the Secretary of Interior hasthe authority to take land into trust forAlaska Tribes – a ruling that places AlaskaNatives on equal footing with other NativeAmerican populations.The state of Alaska had argued thatthe Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act(ANCSA) of 1971 prohibited the secretaryfrom taking land into trust.Judge Rudolph Contreras, however,ruled in favor of the Akiachak NativeCommunity in its lawsuit against formerSecretary Ken Salazar. The Tribalgovernment for the village, which ison the Kuskokwim River near Alaska’ssouthwestern coast, argued that a federalregulation blocking the secretary’sacceptance of trust land only in Alaskawas unlawful.“The ruling is an importantrecognition of Tribal self-determinationand trust status will protect Tribes fromlawsuits, taxation and foreclosure,” saidattorney Heather Kendall Miller, whoargued the case on behalf of AlaskaTribes. “The ruling will allow AlaskaTribes to petition the secretary to havenon-ANCSA lands placed into trust andthe opportunity to enhance their abilityto regulate alcohol, respond to domesticviolence and generally protect the health,safety and welfare of Tribal members.”– Indian Country Media NetworkNorthern Ute may lower blood,raise enrollmentFORT DUCHESNE, Utah — TheTribal nation with North America’sstrictest enrollment criteria may soondecide on more flexible rules that might, ifadopted, dramatically increase the Tribe’scurrent 3,000-plus membership.A pending secretarial election (not yetscheduled) could lower the five-eighthsUte Indian blood degree requirementfor membership in the Ute Indian Tribe,Uintah and Ouray Reservation (NorthernUtes), which occupies some 1.3 millionacres of trust land containing significantoil and gas deposits.The proposed constitutionalamendment resulted from a petition signedby a “large number of Tribal members”calling for change, in hopes of allowingincreased enrollment, sources said.“We’re financially stable and we’regiving our people identity,” said ValentinaSireech, who works in Ute economicdevelopment, “but if we’re financiallyable to do that, we should be sure togive the kids their identity. As some say,though, if we’re not able financially to dothat, maybe we can’t.”The kids she mentions are childrenwho may have a parent of full Uteheritage but who lack by an eighth degreethe quantum required, or children of fullIndian heritage who lack the required fiveeighthsUte quantum.A controversial vote, the secretarialelection will be administered by the BIA,not the Ute Indian Tribe.– Redlakenationnews.comChippewa leader rips statein ‘State of Tribes’ speechMADISON, Wis. — Lac CourteOreilles Band of Lake Superior ChippewaChairman Gordon Thayer took Wisconsinofficials to task in the annual State ofthe Tribes address, accusing them ofspreading “propaganda” in a disputeover fishing, harming the state’s naturalresources with legislation easing themining permit process and failing to givethe Tribes enough credit.The address was a manifestation ofhow fractured the state’s relationship withWisconsin’s six Chippewa Tribes hasbecome. The two sides have clashed overa host of environmental and conservationissues during the past year and a half.“We can’t be dismissed as a subgroupof people in Wisconsin,” Thayer said.“That’s all I’m saying. We’re here.”The feud began when Republicansintroduced bills to establish the state’sfirst organized wolf hunt. The Chippewahave taken special exception to the wolfhunt. They see that animal as a spiritualbrother.The mining bill was designed to easethe path for a company called GogebicTaconite to open a 4.5-mile long openpit mine just south of the Bad RiverChippewa’s reservation; that Tribe fearsthe mine will pollute their water.The proceedings began amiablyenough, with legislators greeting Triballeaders as they took their seats in the StateAssembly Chamber and standing as theTribes carried their flags past the maindais.Thayer’s remarks so angeredAssembly Speaker Pro Tem Bill Kramerthat he walked out of the chamber duringthe speech.“When you’re continually talkingabout collaboration but tell us everythingwe did wrong . . . I don’t think my walkingout was any more disrespectful to thespeaker than the speaker was disrespectfulto us,” Kramer said.– Sheboyganpress.comNavajo Code may allow2-percent sales tax on junk foodWINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — TheNavajo Health Education and HumanServices Committee (HEHSC) isconsidering an amendment to the NavajoNation Code to allow for a 2-percent salestax on junk food and the elimination ofsales tax on fresh fruits and vegetables.Legislation co-sponsor Jonathan Nezsaid he lost 100 pounds since changinghis eating habits, attributing much of hisweight loss to exercising and taking partin the Navajo Nation’s “Just Move It”program.The generated tax revenue couldraise substantial sums of money to benefitprograms that are facing sequestrationbudget cuts, Delegate Nez said; the taxalso encourages local communities to bemore self-determined and self-sufficient.After two hours of deciding on theissue, the HEHSC members chose to holda work session to explore and address theissues and concerns that were broughtforth.HEHSC members voted 4-0 to tablethe legislation until a work session takesplace.– Navajo PostShoshone-Paiute ChairmanTerry Gibson walks onOWYHEE, Nev. — On the eveningof April 4, Tribal Chairman Terry Gibson,of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribe of the DuckValley Reservation on the Nevada/Idahoborder, passed away at age 52. Accordingto Gibson’s son, Buster Gibson, he died asa result of a heart attack.“Chairman Gibson served the peopleof our community as an employee,Council member and as Tribal Chairman.His presence will be missed and his losswill be felt by not only those locally butby many throughout the nation,” said theTribe in a statement. “We thank you inadvance for your condolences, thoughtsand prayers during this time.”– Nativeamericanencyclopedia.comSally Jewell wins confirmationas Interior SecretaryPhoto courtesy of Associated PressWASHINGTON, D.C. — SallyJewell, Seattle-born CEO of outdoorretailer Recreational Equipment Inc.,won easy Senate confirmation April 11to be the nation’s next Interior Secretary,overseeing more than 500 million acresof national parks and other public lands,plus more than 1 billion acres offshore– including lands used for energydevelopment, mining, recreation andother purposes.The Senate approved her nomination87 to 11, with all the “no” votes comingfrom Republicans.One of the first challenges Jewell,57, will face is a proposed rule requiringcompanies that drill for oil and naturalgas on federal lands to publicly disclosechemicals used in hydraulic fracturingoperations. The administration proposed adraft ‘‘fracking’’ rule last year, but twicehas delayed a final rule amid complaintsby the oil and gas industry that the originalproposal was too burdensome. A new draftis expected this spring.Jewell also is expected to continue topush development of renewable energysuch as wind and solar power, bothof which are priorities of the InteriorSecretary she succeeds, Ken Salazar.President Barack Obama said in astatement that Jewell’s extensive businessexperience – including her work as apetroleum engineer – and her longtimecommitment to conservation made her theright person for the job.‘‘She brings an important mix ofstrong management skills, appreciationfor our nation’s tradition of protectingour public lands and heritage, and a keenunderstanding of what it means to begood stewards of our natural resources,”Obama said.– Boston GlobeKen Salazar leaves topInterior job with no regretsPhoto courtesy of Indian Country Today Media NetworkWASHINGTON, D.C. — InteriorSecretary Ken Salazar has packed up hisphotos and most of his books and is takinghis paintings down from the wall. As thetransition begins for the retiring Salazarand his recently confirmed successor,Sally Jewell, Salazar muses over hiseventful four years in office. He points toa small vial of oil recovered on July 14,2010, from the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf ofMexico.“I’m not sure if I’ll take it,” Salazarconfessed, though he said the federalreforms and restoration funding stemmingfrom the Deepwater Horizon disaster haveleft the country better off. “The legacy, ofit, I think, is a positive one.”During an interview with theWashington Post, Salazar said he wassatisfied with his accomplishments.“I don’t know that I would have doneanything differently,” he said. “I feel verygood and very much at peace.”Coping with the oil spill dominatedhis time during 2010, admitted Salazar,who promoted renewable energy both onpublic lands and in federal waters, aftertaking over a department that embraced amind-set of “drill everywhere.”Salazar also touted the nine nationalmonuments President Barack Obamahas declared over the past four years,including five the president designated latelast month. He described preserving thosehistoric, cultural and environmental sites,including Colorado’s Chimney Rock andNew Mexico’s Rio Grande del Norte, asacts that “will be seen as foundational tothe conservation legacy of this president.”– Washington PostTex Hall receives 2013 WendellA. Chino Humanitarian AwardPHOENIX, Ariz. — Tex Hall, thelongest serving Chairman of the Mandan,Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, received theWendell A. Chino Humanitarian Award atthe National Indian Gaming Association’s(NIGA) 2013 Indian Gaming Tradeshow& Convention.A well-known and respected leaderin the Indian and non-Indian communitieson the state and national levels, ChairmanHall has dedicated his life to protectingsovereignty and defending Tribalgovernments.The award was given during NIGA’sannual Banquet during at the PhoenixConvention Center.Chairman Hall currently servesas President of the Native AmericanBasketball Invitational Foundation. Heis a founding member and spokespersonfor the Coalition of Large Tribes (COLT)representing Tribes with large land bases.“This award signifies leadership,humility, strength and honor,” ErnieStevens Jr. said. “Tex Hall exemplifiesall of those qualities. He continues totake charge when many do not, but whiledoing so, instills courage to others, manyof which are in this banquet room. Indiancountry, and the MHA Nation are strongerbecause of the efforts of this man.”Mark Chino, Wendell Chino’s son,presented the award to Chairman Hall.Wendell Chino, the award’s namesake,is an iconic figure in Indian Country. Hewas a nationally recognized leader ofthe Mescalero Apache Nation, servingmost of his life as his nation’s president.He implemented his Tribal economicphilosophy by turning the MescaleroReservation into a small business modelthat raised his Nation to a level of economicgrowth never before experienced by theMescalaro Apache Tribe.The Seminole Tribe of Florida’sSpecial Projects Department – a branch ofSeminole Media Productions – producedthe video tribute played during the NIGAWendell Chino Award dinner on March26.– Indian Gaming WeeklyGenting starts cruiseto Bimini casinoNORTH BIMINI ISLAND —Genting (USA) Ltd., the company thathas been trying to change Florida laws tobuild a super casino in Miami for yearswithout success, has apparently chosenthe next closest geographic alternative: afast cruise to Bimini, the nearest offshoredestination to South Florida where a fullcasino can operate, except for Seminoleand Miccosukee Tribal casinos.Resorts World Bimini Bay isscheduled to open December 2013 atBimini Bay Resort & Marina, featuring a10,000-square-foot casino with full-scalegaming tables, slots and sports bettingin a venue similar to Genting’s Londoncasinos.The boat, recently purchased byGenting, is the 32,728-ton fast ferrySuperfast VI (to be renamed BiminiSuperfast for service from Florida to theBahamas).The ship is capable of carrying 1,600passengers, with berths for 934 overnightpassengers. It is 669 feet long with a beamof 82 feet. As the name implies, it canoperate at a very high speed of around 28knots and will be able to complete the 48nautical-mile distance from the Floridacoast in around 2.5 hours.– Maritimematters.comHard Rock’s John Fontanahonored by Florida Council onCompulsive GamblingPhoto courtesy of Hard Rock TampaJohn Fontana, left, with Paul Ashe.ORLANDO — John Fontana,president of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel& Casino Tampa, was awarded with theTreatment Award from the Florida Councilon Compulsive Gambling (FCCG) in aceremony at the DoubleTree Hilton onApril 5.This is the first time a member of thegaming industry has been recognized withthe award.“Words cannot sufficiently expressthe work of John Fontana, this year’sTreatment Award recipient, and thedifference he has made in the lives ofproblem gamblers and their families,”FCCG President Paul Ashe said. “Whilemost individuals give lip service to theconcern for problem gamblers, he haslong proved his dedication to the cause onan ongoing basis.”The Treatment Award was created torecognize an individual or organizationthat has significantly furthered treatmentservices or support to the problemgambling population in Florida.A 10-year member of the FCCG’sBoard of Directors, and its current vicepresident, Fontana spearheaded theinitiative which secured funding from theSeminole Tribe of Florida, resulting inaccessible treatment for persons in needof help for a gambling problem withinFlorida.To support individuals with acompulsion to gamble, the SeminoleTribe of Florida operates a Self-ExclusionProgram, established to allow peoplewith a gambling problem to voluntarilyexclude themselves from casino gamingactivities in all Seminole casinos.Also, in collaboration with the FCCG,the Seminole Tribe of Florida assists infunding 1-888-ADMIT-IT, Florida’s 24-hour, toll-free help line for casino playerswith a compulsion to gamble. The helpline is used in ads and on all marketingmaterials for the Seminole casinos.– Prweb.com