The National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) will host
“NIGA ’06” - the association’s 15th Annual
Trade Show
and Membership Meeting - on April 2-5 at the Albuquerque (N.M.)
Convention Center. The NIGA meeting is one
of the largest annual gatherings of American Indians and is
expected to draw thousands to discuss pertinent
events and current legislation that affect Indian country.
“This gathering is a time for those of us involved with
Indian gaming to stand up and
take pride in the many things we have accomplished during the past
year, including
job creation for Native people and for all Americans, and the many
ways Indian gaming
is benefiting communities across the country,” said NIGA
Chairman Ernie Stevens,
Jr. “Despite the many challenges that we face, our industry
continues to grow and
flourish.”
The theme of this year’s Trade Show is “Traditions of
the Elders. Strength for the Future.”
Major sponsors include: Wells Fargo, KlasRobinson QED, IGT and Sara
Lee Foodservice.
This year, the NIGA Trade Show will include approximately 350
booths, including a
pavilion dedicated to American Indian Owned Businesses and Native
American arts
and crafts. The 2006 NIGA Trade Show will open with a ribbon
cutting on Tuesday, April
4, at 9:45 a.m. Trade Show hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday,
April 4, and from 10
a.m. until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 5.
One hundred workshops and roundtables, including certifications
and discussions on a variety of topics related
to Indian gaming will be offered throughout the week. Now in its
sixth successful year, the NIGA roundtables
will include networking sessions for 16 casino department
personnel. Certifications and workshops will include:
“New Trends in Table Games”; “Energy Saving
Strategies”; “Avoiding Internal Fraud”;
“Digital Video Surveillance
and IT”; Downloadable Server-Based Gaming”;
“Principals of Ethical Leadership”; among many other
topics.
A “Showcase of Successful Programs,” which will
highlight successful career development and training programs
at Indian casinos around the country, will be offered during each
workshop session.
A Finance Symposium will take place Monday, April 3 through
Wednesday, April 5. The symposium, which is
sponsored by KlasRobinsonQED and Wells Fargo, is designed to open
up discussions regarding the future of
economic development in Indian Country, including the future of
Indian gaming in Indian communities and
other non-gaming businesses on and off reservations.
On Sunday, April 2, “An Afternoon of Native American and
Alaska Native Music and Dance” will take place at
the Albuquerque Civic Plaza beginning at 2 p.m. and ending at 5
p.m. The event, which is free and open to the
public, will feature several Native American and Alaska Native
music and dance groups representing tribes from
around the country. Native arts and crafts vendors also will on
site and a variety of Native foods will be available
for purchase.
Other events to take place on Sunday, April 2 include: Golf
Tournament at Isleta Eagle Golf Resort starting at
10 a.m.; Golf and Bowling Tournaments at Santa Ana Star Golf Resort
and the Santa Ana Star Casino’s Starlight
Lanes starting at 1 p.m.; Golf Tournament at Sandia Golf Club
starting at 1:30 p.m.; and a “Chairman’s Welcome
Reception” from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Sandia Resort.
A Chairman’s Leadership Award Luncheon will be held on Monday
from noon until 1 p.m. NIGA Chairman Ernie
Stevens, Jr., will honor people who have displayed outstanding
leadership and have made contributions within
Indian country. Also, tribes and organizations that have supported
recovery and relief efforts for victims of
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita will be honored at the luncheon.
NIGA’s “2006 Wendell Chino Humanitarian Award
Banquet” will be held on Wednesday, April 5 starting at 6:30
p.m.
in the Ballroom of the Albuquerque Convention Center. The Wendell
Chino Humanitarian Award recipient will
be presented to a candidate who demonstrates exceptional
leadership, commitment to peace, fair governance,
advancement of inter-cultural understanding and ease of suffering
and injustice.
For agenda updates, a listing of Trade Show Exhibitors, complete
descriptions of workshops, and sponsorship
opportunities, visit the NIGA Web site at www.indiangaming.org.
The National Indian Gaming Association is a non-profit trade
association comprised of 184 American Indian
Nations and other non-voting associate members. The common
commitment and purpose of NIGA is to
advance the lives of Indian people – economically, socially
and politically. NIGA operates as a clearinghouse
and educational, legislative and public policy resource for tribes,
policymakers and the public on Indian gaming
issues and tribal community development.
