Native American Business

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (AP) – Nine-year-old Lauren Hummingbird wants a cell phone for Christmas – and not just any old phone, but an iPhone. Such a request normally would be met with skepticism by her father, Cherokee Nation employee Jamie Hummingbird.

CATOOSA, Okla. – The Cherokee Nation recently held its third annual Tribal Employment Rights Office awards ceremony to honor the success and accomplishments of Native American-owned businesses. The event was held at the tribe’s Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Catoosa.

SAN FRANCISCO – Recently, the Tribal Gaming Agency of the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians delivered 3,456 decks of used playing cards from the Black Oak Casino to the United Service Organization at the San Francisco International Airport. The playing cards will be given to military service members and their family members using the USO service center at SFO.

AKWESASNE, N.Y – On Nov. 16, 2010 St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Chief Monica Jacobs, Sub-Chief Pamela Brown and Tribal Economic Development Director Steven B. Cook were on hand at the Malone Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Dinner to receive recognition from the Chamber for their achievements.

New Mexico Business Weekly, an Albuquerque-based newspaper dedicated to covering business and industry, recently announced the best places to work in New Mexico. Three pueblo business partners of the Pueblo of Santa Ana have been named best places to work in the medium and large business categories.

PHOENIX – Gila River Casinos recently announced the appointment of Joel Rovics as corporate director of marketing. In his role, Rovics is responsible for the successful marketing strategies of Gila River Casinos three properties, brand management, and marketing communications throughout the country.

CRANDON, Wis. – The Forest County Potawatomi Community is installing a broadband Internet system on its Forest County, Wisconsin reservation lands that will allow tribal members living on the reservation and local residents living near the reservation access to broadband Internet.

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – An accolade from Oklahoma’s Gov. Brad Henry was presented to Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith at December’s Tribal Council meeting in honor of the workforce programs sponsored by the Cherokee Nation.

ONAMIA, Minn. – Marge Anderson, chief executive of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, was recently recognized for her longtime commitment to economic development. The Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce presented Anderson with its Bear Award, honoring her achievements in using gaming revenues to diversify the band’s economy, provide jobs, and expand services to members and the community.

VANDERBILT, Mich. – When the Bay Mills Indian Community opened a new casino on off reservation land without state or federal approvals in early November, five Indian nations in Michigan issued a statement condemning the action. Now one of the five tribes – the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians – has filed a federal lawsuit, asking the court to shut down the Bay Mills casino immediately.

Over the holidays, I had to get a wrench out of my garage to open a 2-liter bottle of root beer. Seriously, first I tried turning the cap by hand, then with one of those rubber circles you hang on your refrigerator, and even using a mechanical jar opener. Nothing would budge the top of that soda bottle. The wrench, which in my mind was really overkill, finally worked. And it got me thinking. … what do casinos make much more difficult for their guests than is necessary? What hoops do we force our customers to jump through on their way to an entertainment experience, when we could make it so much easier for them to enjoy themselves? Read on for. …

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. – FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek, Mich., owned by the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, celebrated a successful 2010.

INDIO, Calif. – “Oh my goodness! I cannot believe I won!” were Eugenia Arellano’s first thoughts after learning that she would be the one driving home in the ultimate driving machine given away courtesy of Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.

CABAZON, Calif. – The Morongo Casino Resort & Spa will now be filled with calls of “Bingo” with the relocation of the Casino Morongo Bingo Hall to the main casino floor. Now located inside the AAA Four Diamond resort, the new bingo hall seats up to 300 players and offers Early Bird Games and VIP Member Promotions.

KINDER, La. – As a community service, associates of Coushatta Casino Resort and Koasati Pines Golf Course made donations of cash and new toys to Vietnam Veterans of America, benefiting foster and underprivileged children of Allen and Jeff Davis parishes. The contributions resulted from two employee fundraisers, a slot tournament and a golf tournament.

ONTARIO, Canada – Wahnapitae First Nation recently announced that the community has purchased Rocky’s Restaurant and Marina. The Wahnapitae First Nation officially took ownership Dec. 6.

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Cherokee Nation’s transit system has a new look. Three new buses were recently wrapped with Cherokee Nation branded decals. The Cherokee Nation has worked with local transit providers KATS and Pelivan for several years but much of the public has been unaware that Cherokee Nation was involved in the partnership.

CROWNPOINT, N.M. (AP) – Navajo Nation officials recently broke ground on a public safety complex in northwestern New Mexico.

FORT WORTH, Texas – American Airlines has been named Corporation of the Year by four organizations that champion supplier diversity: The Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Supplier Development Council; the Oklahoma Minority Supplier Development Council; the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Texas; and the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce – significant accolades for the airline as it continues to promote supplier diversity in all aspects of its business.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – With the final announcements of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, tribes across the country were awarded more than $100 million in federal stimulus funds. Through the newly launched Tribal Economic Development Forum, tribes have a new way to access each other and technical expertise in an economical manner.