January 20,ZO 1 0 

Don L. Patterson, President 

Tonkawa Tribe of Oklahoma 

1 Rush Buffalo Road 

Tonkawa, OK 74653 

Re: Amended Tonkawa Tribal Gaming Ordinance, Resolution T-R-42-09 

Dear President Patterson 

v 

This is in response to your request for review and approval of the amendment to 

the Tonkawa Tribal Gaming Ordinance enacted by Resolution No. T-R-42-09 on 

December 7,2009. The amendment repeals Resolution No. T-R-03-06, which created a 

Gaming Board of Advisors and was approved by the NIGC on March 22,2006. It is 

consistent with the requirements of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) and this 

agency's regulations and is therefore approved. 

Thank you for submitting the amended ordinance for review and approval. The 

NIGC staff looks fonvard to working with you and the Tribe on future gaming issues. If 

you have any questions or require assistance, plcase contact Dorinda Strmiska, Staff 

Attorney, at (202) 632-7003 

Sincerely, 

~eX)~e Skibine 

Acting Chairman 

NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS 1441 L St NW, Suite 9100. Washlngton, DC 70005 Ti'! 202 632 7003 Fax. 202.632 7066 W.NIGC.GOV 

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TONKAWA TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA 

TONKAWA TRIBAL COMMITTEE 

1 RUSH BUFFALO ROAD PHONE (580) 628-2561 (580) 628-3375 

WEB SITE' www. tonkawatrrbe.com 

TONKAWA, OKLAHOMA 74653 

DECEMBER 7 ,2009 

RESOLUTION: T-R-4 2-09 

A RESOLUTION REPEALING TONKAWA TRIBAL RESOLUTION T-R-03-06 AND 

AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE GAMING 

ORDINANCE TO THE NIGC FOR IMMEDIATE APPROVAL 

WHEREAS: ~hel~onkawa Tribe of Oklahoma is a federally-recognized Indian hbe having a 

government-to-government relati on sh ip with the United States through the 

Tribe's organization under the authority of the Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act of 

June 26, 1936 (49 Stat. 1967); and 

WHEREAS: The Tonkawa Tribe is organized under a Constitution and By-Laws approved by 

the United States Secretary of the Interior on March 16, 1938 and ratified by the 

citizens of the Tribe on April 21, 1938; and 

WHEREAS: The Tonkawa Tribe has elected a full governmental Tribal Committee consisting 

of Don L. Patterson, Tribal President; James E. Schreen, Vice-President; and 

Candace M yer, Secretary-Treasurer; and 

WHEREAS: The elected members of the Tribal Committee consistent with the powers 

provided by the Tonkawa Tribal Constitution and By-Laws are authorized to 

speak for and act on hehal f of the Tonkawa Tribe of Oklahoma, and 

WHEREAS: Pursuant to Article V, Section 1 of the Tonkawa Constitution the Tonkawa Tribal 

Committee has the duty and authority to act in the best interest of the Tribe to 

enact laws to regulate al I gaming with the jurisdiction of the Tribe; and 

WHEREAS: Ry its previous action, the Tribal Committee determined to become involved in 

Clas 11 and Cl~ss [[I gaming as such terms are defined in the lndian Gaming 

Regulatory Act, Public taw 100-497, as codified in 25 U.S.C. 5 2701 et seq., and 

its implementing regulations promulgated by the National Indian Gaming 

Comnlission ("NLGC"); and 

WHEREAS: The Tribal Con~mittez adopted a Gaming Ordinance on January 28, 1997 and 

such Gaming Ordinance has been amended from time to time; and 
WHEFLEAS: The Tribal Committee enacted Tribal Resolution T-K-03-06 on February 13,2006 

and such resolution created a Gaming Board of Advisors with various attributes 

and authority to run the gaming operations; and 

WHEREAS: The Tribal Committee finds it legitinlate and necessary to repeal Tribal 

Resolution T-R-03-06 and tu amend said Gaming Ordinance as the Tribe has 

delegated the day-to-day operations of the gaming facilities to a management 

contractor; and 

WHEREAS: The Tribal Committee has determined that this amendment to the Gaming 

Ordinance will not adversely impede the gaming operation or any Tonkawa 

gaming facilities' ability to succeed in the market, nor will the amendment affect 

the rights of the Tribe's Management Contractor, Gaughan Gaming, under any 

approved management agreement or developmentlconstruction agreement 

executed between the Tribe and Ciaughan Gan~ing. 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that effective immediately the Tonkawa Tribal 

Committee hereby repeals Tribal Resolution T-R-03-06. 

BE IT FURTHER FLESOLVED, that the duties and responsibilities of the Board ol Advisors 

shall be conducted and administered consistent with applicable provisions of any 

duly-approved management agreements but will not include oversight of day -today operations. 

BE 1T FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Tribal President is hereby authorized to take all 

necessary action required to obtaining the full Federal approval of the amendment 

to the Gaming Ordinance. 

CERTIFICATION 

Wc, the undersigned officers of the Tonkawa Tribal Committee, do hereby certify that 

the foregoing Resolutiun T - R - 42 - 09 was duly adopted this 7 t h day of Dcccmber 

2009, at a duly called special meeting of the Tonkawa Tribal Committee of the Tonkawa Tribe 

of Oklahoma, by a vote of 3 for, a- against, and 0 abstaining.