By First Class Mail 

Kurt Riley, Governor 

Pueblo of Acoma 

25 Pinsbaari Drive 

P.O. Box 309 

Acoma, NM 87034 

July 15, 2016 

Re: Pueblo of Acoma Ordinance Amendments, Resolution No. TC-APR-08-16-Via. 

Dear Governor Riley: 

This letter responds to yom request on behalf of the Pueblo of Acoma for the National 

Indian Gaming Commission (NTGC) to review and approve the Pueblo's amendments to its 

gaming ordinance. The amendments were adopted by the Pueblo of Acoma's Tribal Council in 

Resolution No. TC-APR-08-16-Vla. The amendments execute various revisions to the Gaming 

Ordinance intended to conform with the 2015 Compact the Pueblo recently entered into with the 

State ofNew Mexico. 

Thank you for bringing these amendments to our attention and for providing us with a copy. 

These amendments are approved as they are consistent with the requirements of the Indian 

Gaming Regulatory Act and the NIGC's regulations. If you have any questions or require 

anything further, please contact Staff Attorney Rea Cisneros at 202-632-7003. 

cc: Joe M. Tenorio, Chestnut Law Offices, P.A. (via e-mail) 

NEW MAILING ADDRESS: NIGC/DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 1849 C Slreel NW, Moil Slop# 1621 Washington, DC 20240 Tel: 202.632.7003 Fox: 202.632.7066 

REGIONAL OFFICES Portland, OR; Socromenlo, CA; Phoenix, AZ; Sr, Poul, MN; Tulsa OK; Oklahoma Ciry, OK 

WWW.NIOt.OOV 
25 Pi11sboan' Driw 

J/an'Jld M C/riuo, H;od Co1111dlma11 

Dm:k C V11/cfo, Co11r1afm<111 

Emcst M. Vc1/lo S.:, Couucilmtm 

Timothy J. Chavtz, Councilman 

Brion Tonvio, Cum1cil111ai1 

Banll')' Chi110. Councilman 

G12ma Chmo, Cou11crlma11 

P. 0. Box 309 

Aro111a, NM 87034 

7Htpf1o"r: (505)552-61104 

Edmund Sc;•mour, Co1m<ilma11 

Rr.x Salvatior, Ccu11dlman 

Harold Felipe, Ctr1mcilma11 

Tfd Mortillez, Couimlmon 

Joseph Castillo. Cv1mcilm11n PUEBLO OF ACOMA 

Ftv:· (505)552-7204 

TRIBAL COUNCIL 

RESOLUfION NO. TC-APR-08-16-Vla 

APPROVAL BY THE PUEBLO OF ACOMA TRIBAL COUNCIL OF THE 2016 

AMENDMENTS TO THE ACOMA GAMJNG ORDINANCE 

At a duly called meeting of the Tribal Council of the Pueblo of Acoma held on this 8th day 

of April, 2016; the following resolution was adopted: 

WHEREAS: 

Section No. 1 

Section No. 2 

Section No. 3 

Section No. 4 

Section No. 5 

Section No. 6 

The Pueblo of Acoma is a sovereign Indian Nation, recognized as such by the 

federal government of the United States of America, and in the exercise of its 

tribal sovereignty remains organized in accordance with Pueblo tradition; and 

The Pueblo of Acoma accepted the terms of the Indian Reorganization Act 

(Congressional Act of June 18, 1934, Chapter 576, Codified at 25 United 

States Code§ 461-479 ("IRA")). However, the Pueblo is not organized under 

the IRA and has no written Constitution; and 

The Pueblo of Acoma Tribal Council is the legislative authority for the 

Pueblo of Acoma and has the responsibility to adopt laws applicable on the 

lands of the Pueblo. This resolution is passed in exercising the responsibilities 

and authorities of the Tribal Council for and in the best interest of the Pueblo 

of Acoma; and 

Congress enacted the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988, 25 U.S.C. §§ 

2701-2721 and 18 U.S.C. §§ 1166-1168 ("IGRA") to regulate Gaming on 

Indian Lands subject to oversight by the National Indian Gaming 

Commission ("NIGC") and to authorize Class III Gaming on Indian Lands 

by Indian Tribes and states pursuant to tribal-state compacts; and 

The Pueblo of Acoma Tribal Council, pursuant to Tribal Council Resolution 

No. TC-OCT-21-10-VIa, approved amendments to the Acoma Gaming 

Ordinance which became effective January 31, 2011 after review and final 

approval of the NIGC; and 

The Pueblo of Acoma Tribal Council, pursuant to Tribal Council Resolution 

TC-MAR-26-15-Vla, approved the 2015 Tribal-State Compact which requires 

certain changes to be made to the Gaming Ordinance to conform with the 

new compact; and Exhibit 1 
RESOLUTION NO. TC·APR-08-16-Vla 

Page Two 

Section No. 7 

Section No. 8 

Section No. 9 

The Acoma Gaming Commission and the Sky City Casino recommend 

additional changes to the Gaming Ordinance generally concerning the scope 

of licensing required, the delegation of licensing authority to the Executive 

Director of the Acoma Gaming Commission, provision for summary 

suspension of licensed employees or vendors in emergency situations, and 

reporting requirements to the Acoma Tribal Council; and 

The Chestnut Law Offices, P.A., recommend additional changes to the 

Gaming Ordinance generally concerning compliance with tnbal laws and 

regulations, consent to tribal court jurisdiction, and refining the interpretation 

of a Gaming Facility; and · 

An attorney for the National Indian Gaming Commission ("NIGC") 

recommends that the licensing process affecting key employees and primary 

management officials be revised to conform with changes to the NIGC 

regulations governing such employees. 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: 

Section No. 1 

Section No. 2 

Section No. 3 

Section No. 4 

The 2016 Gaming Ordinance, a copy of which is attached hereto and made a 

part hereof, is hereby approved by the Pueblo of Acoma Tribal Council; and 

Once approved by the chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission 

(NIGC), the 2016 Gaming Ordinance shall be enacted into law; and 

The current Acoma Gaming Regulation shall remain in effect unless contrary 

to this law; and 

The Pueblo of Acoma Tribal Council hereby authorizes the Governor, and 

his designees to execute all documents necessary to initiate the intent of this 

resolution. 
RESOLUTION NO. TC-APR-08-16-Vla 

Page Three 

CERTIFICATION 

I, the undersigned as Governor of the 

Pueblo of Acoma, "Sky City," hereby 

certify that the Pueblo of Acoma 

Tribal Council, at a duly called 

meeting held on the st11 day of April, 

2016, at the Pueblo of Acoma, New 

Mexico, approve this resolution. a 

quorum being present, that lQ_ 

voted for, ___1::L opposed, and .D_ 

abstained, with _l_ absent. 

Daabupu, Pueblo of Acoma 

ATTEST: 

Der~ ek C. Valdo, Pinsibaari 

Timothy J. Chavez, Pinsibaari 

'~ ? 

(_ c {.- ,._;: 

sibaari 

Rex Salvador, Pinsibaari 

Harold 

!~~Felfyf) ~ Pin'ari < 

Ted D. Martinez, Pinsibaari ~