Thirty years of tribal unity in gaming started with the formation of the National Indian Gaming Association , and was cemented by the leadership of the late Rick Hill
By Kate Spilde
On August 13 , 2013 , Rick Hill , chairman emeritus of the National Indian Gaming Association ( NIGA ), was asked to present a history of tribal government gaming and the role that NIGA has played in protecting and promoting gaming , both before and after the passage of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act ( IGRA ) in 1988 .
At the time , IGRA was 25 years old , and Chairman Hill ’ s speech was both a renewed call to action and a prayer of gratitude to those who had created and sustained NIGA across the decades .
While his presentation was not recorded , this article is based on extensive written notes and a copy of the remarks made by Chairman Hill that day . I hope those who knew Rick Hill will hear his voice here , and those who didn ’ t can appreciate the legacy of NIGA through his words .
After an introduction by Sheila Morago , executive director of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association ( OIGA ), who invited him to give this address , Chairman Hill ’ s speech started out in a way that reflected his humility and humor . In only a few short words , he compelled those who were standing in the back of the room to put down their phones , move toward the podium , and listen . “ B-23 … I-19 … O-31 … “ Hello , everyone , I thought Sheila asked me here tonight to call bingo numbers . The Catholic Church is still mad because we stole their sacred sacrament , bingo .
“ Some of you may remember ( poet and musician ) Gil Scott-Heron ,
Rick Hill transformed NIGA with a tireless commitment to tribal government gaming and Indian Country
when he said , ‘ I had said I wasn ’ t gonna write no more poems like this . I had said I wasn ’ t gonna write no more words down about people kicking us when we ’ re down . But the dogs are in the street . The revolution will not be televised .’”
As NIGA (# indiangaming1985 ) celebrates 35 years in 2020 , we simultaneously mourn the loss of Rick Hill , who would undoubtedly have had the perfect words to share with Indian Country this year at the 2020 NIGA Indian Gaming Trade Show & Convention .
In what is sure to be one of many tributes to Chairman Hill , this article is meant to carry honor to him , to his family and to the Oneida Tribe , and to highlight the sacrifices they all made so he could dedicate himself to the work required to sustain NIGA across the decades .
As NIGA (# indiangaming1985 ) celebrates 35 years in 2020 , we simultaneously mourn the loss of Chairman Emeritus Rick Hill , who would undoubtedly have had the perfect words to share with Indian Country this year at the 2020 NIGA Indian Gaming Trade Show & Convention .
32 TRIBAL GOVERNMENT GAMING 2020