Indian Gaming Association

{{Short description|Indigenous American nonprofit}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2019}}

The Indian Gaming Association is a nonprofit organization founded in 1986 made up of 184 Native American tribal nations in the United States, along with additional non-voting associate members.{{cite book |last=Mason |first=W.D. |title=Indian Gaming: Tribal Sovereignty and American Politics |publisher=University of Oklahoma Press |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-8061-3260-0 |url=https://archive.org/details/indiangamingtrib0000maso_t7a2 |url-access=registration |access-date=June 28, 2019 |page=[https://archive.org/details/indiangamingtrib0000maso_t7a2/page/68 68] |quote=The organized effort of gaming tribes was led by the National Indian Gaming Association, founded in 1985. Reflecting the status of tribal governments and the unique role of gaming in tribal affairs, NIGA and its activities do not meet the usual ...}}{{cite book |last=Thompson |first=W.N. |title=Gambling in America: An Encyclopedia of History, Issues, and Society |publisher=ABC-CLIO |series=ABC-CLIO E-Books |year=2001 |isbn=978-1-57607-159-5 |url=https://archive.org/details/gamblinginameric0000thom |url-access=registration |access-date=June 28, 2019 |page=[https://archive.org/details/gamblinginameric0000thom/page/150 150] |quote=The National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) was established in 1985 as a nonprofit organization.As of 2001, its members include 168 Indian nations and 55 nonvoting associate members representing ...}}Darian-Smith, Eve. New Capitalists:Law, Politics, and Identity Surrounding Casino Gaming on Native American Land, Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, 2004 The purpose of the IGA is "to protect and preserve the general welfare of tribes striving for self-sufficiency through gaming enterprises in Indian Country," and to "maintain and protect Indian sovereign governmental authority in Indian Country."{{cite book |title=Regulatory Activities of the National Indian Gaming Commission: Hearing Before the Committee on Indian Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourth Congress, Second Session, to Examine the Nigc and How It Has Carried Out Its Obligations Under the Indian Gaming Regulatory ACT, October 2, 1996, Washington, DC |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |series=S. hrg |year=1997 |isbn=978-0-16-055028-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b_NxnJeNV6kC |access-date=June 28, 2019 |page=146}}

The IGA seeks to advance the lives of Indian people economically, socially, and politically.{{cite book |last1=Leahy |first1=T. |last2=Wilson |first2=N. |title=Historical Dictionary of Native American Movements |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |series=Historical Dictionaries of Religions, Philosophies, and Movements Series |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-4422-6809-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KzSHDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA184 |access-date=June 28, 2019 |page=184}} To fulfill its mission, the IGA works with the federal government and members of Congress to develop sound policies and practices and to provide technical assistance and advocacy on gaming issues.{{cite web |title=Bulletin NO. 04-2 |url=http://www.nigc.gov/Reading_Room/Bulletins/Bulletin_No._2004-2.aspx |publisher=National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) |accessdate=October 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316101447/http://www.nigc.gov/Reading_Room/Bulletins/Bulletin_No._2004-2.aspx |archive-date=March 16, 2012 |url-status=dead }} The IGA's office building is located in Washington, D.C.{{cite book |title=Congressional Record |publisher=Government Printing Office |year=1956 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d9xPx5IkL5QC&pg=SL4-PA369 |access-date=June 28, 2019 |page=4–PA369|isbn=9780160118449 }} The IGA headquarters building was purchased by a tribal collective.{{cite book |last=Darian-Smith |first=E. |title=New Capitalists: Law, Politics, and Identity Surrounding Casino Gaming on Native American Land |publisher=Thomson/Wadsworth |series=Case studies on contemporary social issues |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-534-61308-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YRkaAQAAIAAJ |access-date=June 28, 2019 |page=1 |quote=Now owned and run by the National Indian Gaming Association, the building is the headquarters for national issues ... purchased by a tribal collective, is the very first structure of any sort to be owned by Native Americans in Washington, DC.}} IGA is presided by Ernest L. Stevens, Jr. who serves as the chairman and by Andy Ebona acting as the treasurer.{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiangaming.org/about/board-of-directors |title=Board of Directors |website=www.indiangaming.org |language=en |access-date=June 13, 2019}}{{Cite web |url=https://newsmaven.io/indiancountrytoday/news/looking-30-years-ahead-forum-on-indian-gaming-focuses-on-self-determination-6i1g2ZnGuESwLyOnRWh2hA/ |title=Indian Country Today |website=www.newsmaven.io |date=February 19, 2019 |language=en |access-date=June 26, 2019}}

The chairman, Ernest P. Stevens, Jr is one of six recipients of the "Path Breaker" award, which is awarded to individuals who have had a positive impact on Indian gaming.{{cite web |title=Global Gaming Business Magazine |url=https://ggbmagazine.com/article/ernest_l___stevens__jr___/ |access-date=June 25, 2019}} The treasurer, Andy Ebona, is also a member of the Douglas Indian Association which represents the T’aaḵu Kwáan.{{cite web |title=KTOO Public Media |url=https://www.ktoo.org/2017/08/08/douglas-indian-association-demonstrates-size-of-taa%E1%B8%B5u-kwaan-territory/ |accessdate=June 26, 2019|date=August 8, 2017 }} Ebona is also vice president of Native Beverage Group,{{Cite web|url=http://nativebeveragegroup.com/our-team/|title=Our Team {{!}} Native Beverage Group|website=nativebeveragegroup.com|access-date=2019-12-07}} Chairman of the Advisory Board of Spirit of Sovereignty,{{Cite web|url=https://spiritofsov.org/about/|title=About Us – Spirit Of Sovereignty|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-07}} and Owner of Copper Shield Consulting LLC which works with Tribes and villages on economic and community development projects.{{Cite web |url=http://www.indiangaming.com/istore/Oct18_Products.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=June 26, 2019 |archive-date=June 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626040739/http://www.indiangaming.com/istore/Oct18_Products.pdf |url-status=dead }}

Formerly known as the National Indian Gaming Organization, the "National" portion of the name was removed from its name in April 2022, as the organization's acronym could be inadvertently pronounced as a racial slur towards Black Americans if pronounced as a word (though the organization's own pronouncement of the acronym did not resemble said slur).{{cite news|url=https://nativenewsonline.net/currents/national-indian-gaming-association-drops-its-n-from-acronym-by-changing-its-name#:~:text=A%20name%20change%20was%20announced,Indian%20Gaming%20Association%20(IGA).|title=National Indian Gaming Association Drops the “N” from Acronym by Changing its Name|last=Rickert|first=Levi|date=21 April 2022|work=Native News Online|access-date=3 September 2024}}