in Minnesota . The goals of this affiliation are to provide a combination of breadth , depth and quality of curriculum , experience and purpose that neither institution could achieve on its own , and to expand opportunities for students in both regions and at both institutions .
This partnership was forged through a combination of tribal leadership , academic partners and industry executives , including Sycuan Tribal Chairman Cody Martinez , RLNC President Dan King , Red Lake Nation Gaming CEO Angela Dauphinais , SITG Endowed Chair Kate Spilde and AIS Chair David Kamper . The timing of the launch was symbolic since the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay celebrated the inauguration of their new tribal council in San Diego on Saturday , January 28 , and met with leaders of the Red Lake Nation and RLNC in their council chambers first thing Monday morning , January 30 , to learn more about the ways this partnership can support both nations and all of Indian Country .
Signed on campus at SDSU later the same day , the MOU is intended to accomplish a number of concrete objectives . In the short term , faculty in AIS and the SITG will support the RLNC to facilitate student participation in the online AIS degree completion program at SDSU to include the Certificate in Tribal Casino Operations Management offered by the SITG .
In addition , the RLNC will work with AIS and SITG to determine tribal gaming education and training needs specific to Red Lake Gaming in order to assess whether current offerings are meeting industry , student and workforce development needs . We will also work together to provide exchange opportunities for students at each institution to visit and / or work at other tribal gaming properties to appreciate the diversity of tribal gaming facilities across Indian Country .
In the long term , our shared goal is to create a self-perpetuating pathway that allows for students graduating from RLNC to complete their B . A . at SDSU fully online while they are able to live and work in their chosen community . Ultimately , we plan to collect and distribute data about this successful education collaboration that can be mobilized for public consumption and in ongoing public policy debates related to tribal gaming education , research and improved gaming operations .
Future partnership exploration includes curriculum development in indigenous-focused education and food sovereignty that bridges Indian County community needs , indigenous foods and the tribal gaming industry in partnership with groups like the North American Indigenous Traditional Indigenous Food Systems ( NATIFS ) organization .
Conclusion
Leaders at tribal nations like Sycuan and Red Lake and educational institutions like SDSU and the RLNC are demonstrating that strategic partnerships like this one can improve business performance through strengthening gaming management resources . Affiliation also increases the depth and breadth of the academic research component of the gaming industry , including the SITG ’ s ability to fund independent research that addresses marketing , operations and regulation of current and future gaming opportunities across Indian Country .
Finally , this affiliation supports tribal students and communities by bridging the geographic divide between tribal nations and facilitating deep and enduring knowledge sharing and success .
Dr . Kate Spilde is a professor and endowed chair of the Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming at San Diego State University . She has worked with tribal governments on economic development and gaming for more than 20 years and serves on the Board of Directors for the International Center for Responsible Gaming .
24 TRIBAL GOVERNMENT GAMING 2023