PR-90 04-2008
For Immediate Release
Contact: Shawn Pensoneau
(202) 632-7003
NIGC to Hold Government-to-Government Consultations
San Diego CA, April 21, 2008 — The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) will hold government-to-government consultations with Indian gaming Tribes during the National Indian Gaming Association’s 17th Annual Convention and Trade Show that takes place this week in San Diego, California. In keeping with NIGC’s stated policy, the agency will hold consultations April 21 to 23, 2008.
In early 2003, the NIGC set out to establish its first formal consultation policy and received several constructive comments. In March 2004, the NIGC adopted its consultation policy to encourage meaningful government-to-government consultation. Since adoption of the policy, the NIGC has held several hundred tribal consultations and reached out to many more Indian gaming tribes.
This week the NIGC is scheduled to meet with representatives of 18 tribes from throughout the country to discuss a wide range of topics. Chairman Hogen stated, “The NIGC has long held the belief that input from Tribes is essential in the development of rules and regulations that will affect Indian gaming. Additionally, we listen to the input received, and in many situations changes have been made to issues at hand.”
The NIGC will continue government-to-government consultations during upcoming events including the Great Plains Indian Gaming Association at Mystic Lake, Minnesota, and the National Congress of American Indians mid-year meeting in Reno, Nevada, in June.
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The NIGC is an independent regulatory agency established within the Department of the Interior pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988.
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