SAN DIEGO – The tribal chairwoman and CEO for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians in Alabama said Native American gaming has been a game changer and called on tribes to come together to protect their sovereignty.
Stephanie Bryan raised her concerns when she was among several female tribal leaders honored Wednesday at the National Indian Gaming Association conferenced as Women Warriors for their excellence in tribal leadership.
Bryan discussed the Alabama Supreme Court’s 2017 ruling that reversed a lower court decision granting Poarch Creek and its related business a claim of sovereign immunity. The case has been appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
“In September 2017, our tribe was hit to the core,” Bryan said. “Our sovereignty is constantly being chipped away, and they are using a jackhammer to attack our sovereignty in Indian country. Our sovereignty was attacked by the state of Alabama, and they ignored decades of federal law. We are not a corporation but a government, yet they ignore federal law.”
Other tribes could be next if the decision stands, and that would be “bad precedent for Indian country,” and they need to fight, Bryan said.
“I challenge all of you today – leaders and vendors – there is a reason why we are the largest gaming industry at $32.4 billion that we need to protect together,” Bryan said.
Bryan, who the first female chairwoman of her tribe and told the audience watching the ceremony that “if you want something done, give it to a woman.” She said she has seen her community in Alabama go from poverty to prosperity and that must be protected.
“I am reminded of those humble times of the things that we go through together,” Bryan said. “If we stand together, we can do better and be stronger in Indian country.”
Poarch Creek in the process of completing a $1.3 billion deal to buy the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem in Pennsylvania.
The other honorees included Melanie Benjamin, chief executive of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe in Minnesota; Bernadine Burnette, president of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation in Arizona; and Lynn Valbuena, chairwoman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians in California. Virginia Hill, an advocate for Native American issues, was honored posthumously.
Another honoree, Shannon Hosley, president of Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians in Wisconsin, was grateful for the honor and like the others praised other women for their contributions.
Women are dynamic and forward thinking, Hosley said. They are raising consciousness, raising our children and future leaders, she added.
“Hopefully they are raising some heck,” Hosley said. “Quite honestly, they say well behaved women never make history and perhaps I will not be well behaved and never make history, but I’m certainly doing everything I can do to make a difference. I understand that its women out there bringing consciousness to the issues to the matter most to us – the protection of our children health care and protection of our environment and land of course. I want to dedicate this to all of the strong and amazing indigenous women. May we know them. May we raise them, and may we move them, and may we support them.”
Another honoree, Fawn Sharp, president of the Quinault Indian Nation in Washington State, said it’s common in Indian country to hear a drum beat and that’s what binds them – the strength of their heart. When they go through stress, there’s an adrenaline rush. When there’s a stressful situation with Native American women, “we don’t shy and cower, but we rise and unite and get stronger. That’s the beauty of being a native woman to stand on the shoulders of many women who have gone before us.”
No matter the issue, Hosley said you will hear a Native American voice in a world filled with darkness and division.
“It’s our process to stand strong and rely on those ancient teachings of values and honor our ancestors and women who have gone before us and set the example for the young ladies and children who are yet to be born.”
