Seneca Nation has 2 resolutions passed at Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Convention
On May 16-19, 2022, President Pagels and Councillors William “Billy” Canella and Presley Redeye attended the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians’ (“ATNI”) mid-year convention hosted by the Lummi Nation at the Silver Reef Casino in Ferndale, Washington. ATNI is a nonprofit organization representing 57 Northwest tribal governments from several Western states.
At ATNI’s mid-year convention, President Pagels and Councillors Canella and Redeye were able to discuss the Nation’s recent compact dispute with New York State and the underhanded tactics used to coerce the Nation into making the disputed revenue sharing payment. Many of the ATNI members were shocked and outraged at New York’s egregious behavior and openly expressed their support for the Nation.
The Nation’s visit to ATNI’s mid-year convention resulted in the passage of two resolutions supporting the Nation’s efforts to find a fix to IGRA’s broken compact process. In fact, one of the resolutions passed by ATNI stated that ATNI will submit comments and recommendations to the Department of the Interior regarding the draft revisions to Part 293 and ATNI will urge the National Congress of American Indians to do the same.
Councillor Canella’s efforts were invaluable in securing the resolutions from ATNI, as he was able to coordinate with the ATNI staffers to get these last-minute items on the agenda of the ATNI Executive Board and, ultimately, across the finish line.
The Nation’s efforts at ATNI were so well received that the Nation was invited to speak at the upcoming Washington Indian Gaming Association’s Conference and Expo at the Tulalip Resort Casino in Tulalip, Washington. The WIGA Conference and Expo will take place on June 20-22, 2022.
Councillor Canella has, again, been instrumental in coordinating this event with WIGA’s leadership and the Nation has submitted a resolution for support by WIGA. We will keep the people updated on these events as more information becomes available.
