NA T I O NA L INDI AN G AMING C OMMISSI O N

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These stories highlight a handful of tribes and

tribal gaming stake-holders. They share the

investments, commitment to communities, and

advancements made to support strong Indian

gaming for the long term.

TRIBAL EFFORTS IN REGIONAL

ECONOMIES AND INDUSTRY REBOUND
NIGC RESOURCES

Vital Voices: Tribal Efforts in Regional

Economies and Industry Rebound

These stories are first-hand accounts of tribal and stakeholders efforts

throughout Indian country. The NIGC highlights these stories as a way to

show growth, continued efforts, community impacts and perseverance

through this difficult time. The NIGC is thankful for the opportunity to share

these stories and successes.

S E N E C A R E S O R T S & C A S I N O S

"Response to Challenges & Commitment"

Y O C H A D E H E W I N T O N N A T I O N

"Meeting the Moment"

C O N F E D E R A T E D T R I B E S O F G R A N D R O N D E

"Investing in Our Communities"

S A N M A N U E L B A N D O F M I S S I O N I N D I A N S

"Continued honor to Vision of Past Leaders"

PAGE 02

Disclaimer:

By providing a link to, or information on, any non-federal government entities or resources in this document, the NIGC is not intending to imply an

endorsement of the policies, services, or information that these entities or resources provide, and may not necessarily represent the official position

or policies of the National Indian Gaming Commission or the U.S. government.
Meeting the moment, facing a challenge, doesn’t always look like we think it might. That’s

undoubtedly true for COVID-19. Sometimes the boldest choice is to stay home.

Sometimes the best thing you can do for your community is to shut your doors. For the

safety of our workforce, our guests, and our region, the people of the Yocha Dehe Wintun

Nation met the challenge of the pandemic by closing Cache Creek Casino Resort for the

first time in its history. But as the largest private employer in our county, the Tribe was

not going to heap economic devastation on top of a health crisis.

The Yocha Dehe Tribal Council, Cache Creek Casino Resort Board

of Directors, and the Tribal Gaming Agency unanimously agreed to

continue providing full pay and, perhaps even more importantly,

full health benefits for the duration, until employees could return

to a safer, lower capacity, reconfigured gaming environment.

YOCHA DEHE WINTON NATION PAGE 03
Meanwhile, the Tribe’s philanthropic efforts

continued, highlighted by volunteer hours at

charities stretched thin by the needs of those

struggling with the new normal, food

donations to our local school district that kept

serving lunches even though students couldn’t

come to class, and donations. The donations

range from diapers to toys for a community

nursery, dedicated to helping families in crisis.

The Yocha Dehe Fire Department

was engaged to help create the

safest possible environment by

hosting a series of vaccination

clinics for tribal citizens,

employees, and neighboring

residents. For many in the rural

Capay Valley that the Tribe calls

home, this was the first and best

chance to become vaccinated,

with other opportunities as much

as an hour away by car.

YOCHADEHE.ORG

YOCHA DEHE WINTON NATION PAGE 04
INVEST ING IN OUR COMMUNI TY

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the

Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde faced

some unprecedented decisions. The most

important decision, however, was the

investment into the community. This

investment took many forms, including

support for staff, continued giving through the

Spirit Mountain Community Fund and a focus

on public health through vaccine distribution.

GRAND RONDE

CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF

SUP POR T ING

STAF F

CONTINUED

DONATIONS

COMMUNITY

RESOURCES

PUBLIC HEALTH
SUP POR T ING OUR

STAF F

Spirit Mountain Casino continued to pay

Casino staff to ease any concern for

financial security for their families.

In 2021 the Grand Ronde Tribe

increased minimum wage for casino and

Government employees.

CONT INUED

DONAT IONS

During Spirit Mountain Casino’s 74-

day closure, Spirit Mountain

Community Fund gifted $643,293 to

non-profits through 24 grants.

OVE R 2020, THAT NUMB E R GR EW TO,

$2 , 2 6 1 , 2 1 3 THROUGH 9 6 GRANTS.

The tribe began administering

COVID-19 vaccines to high priority

groups in late 2020.

Also, began offering the vaccine to

the general public in February 2021.

Grand Ronde Health and Wellness has

administered more than 20,600

vaccines. This includes our partners

with the Portland Trailblazers.

GRAND RONDE PAGE 06

Stay Connected
The Spirit of Yawa’ – to act upon one’s beliefs –

inspires the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians

to embrace the value and worldview bestowed

upon the Tribe through their Creator, while

inheriting responsibilities that preserve and

protect their ancestral lands and their inhabitants.

Throughout the pandemic the San Manuel Band of

Mission Indians has continued to honor the vision

of its past leaders by supporting their people,

surrounding community, and Indian Country

nationwide.

The Tribe’s newsletter provides information on

their charitable giving efforts, including the San

Manuel $1 Million Small Business Relief Fund,

which assisted 50 local small businesses

devastated by the impact of COVID-19.

The Spring newsletter may be viewed here

Promote our culture, protect our land, and

sustain our Tribal Government through

education for the advancement of our Tribe

and community.

Our Vision

SAN MANUEL OF MISSION INDIANS PAGE 07

S A N M A N U E L C A R E S . O R G
Continued Investments in the Future

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians’ cultural values require interacting

with others with respect and humility. The Tribe is dedicated to their

commitment of giving back to the areas they call home and supporting

organizations working to create a better tomorrow, including a recent grant for

$14 million to Claremont Graduate University to establish the Yuhaaviatam

Center for Health Studies, an innovative, multi-disciplinary research center

rooted in health and well-being, including health issues affecting Indian

Country.

San Manuel Maternity Pavilion at Loma Linda University's Children's Hospital

Goodwill Southern California

Claremont Graduate University

Small Business Relief Fund

Click to learn more about San Manuel Mission of Indians Donation Efforts

SAN MANUEL OF MISSION INDIANS PAGE 08

The Tribe recently launched a

lifestyle magazine, Hamiinat.

The title translates to "hello" in

the Maara'yam(Serrano Indian)

language.

The magazine will feature

compelling stories designed to

shine a light on the vibrant culture,

values, and accomplishments of

the Tribe.
Response to Challenges & Commitment

The pandemic dealt a quick, unexpected and dramatic

challenge to the entire gaming industry. Seneca

Gaming Corporation closed its three properties –

Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, Seneca Allegany

Resort & Casino and Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino – for

three months, but never lost its focus on its people.

“Our response to the pandemic is really a lesson in

teamwork and commitment,” said Dr. Lori Quigley,

Chairwoman of the company’s Board of Directors. “In a

matter of weeks, we went from a vibrant, 24/7

epicenter of activity and excitement to closed for three

months to reimagining our operations to welcome back

team members and guests. We couldn’t be prouder of

the way our entire team led our three properties

through that unimaginable scenario.”

During the closure, the

company doubled down

on its commitment to its

team members,

maintaining workers’

insurance benefits and

issuing additional paid

time off for each team

member to help lessen

the economic impact,

and, ultimately,

coordinating the return

to work for thousands of

team members as the

properties reopened by

July 2020.

SENECA RESORTS & CASINOS PAGE 09
Stronger as a Community

Once the COVID vaccine roll-out began in early 2021, Seneca Gaming Corporation

embraced the opportunity to assist in that all-important effort. The company worked

collaboratively with the Seneca Nation and leaders in Cattaraugus County, a rural

county in southwestern New York, to conduct a series of vaccination clinics for

County residents at the Seneca Allegany Events Center inside Seneca Allegany Resort

& Casino.

That effort was overseen by Kevin Nephew, who, in October 2020, made history by

becoming the first member of the Seneca Nation to be named President & CEO of

Seneca Gaming Corporation.

“For me, hosting the vaccination clinics at Seneca Allegany underscored not only the

important role our properties play in the communities where we’re located, but it

also reinforced the sense that we are all in this together, and that we are going to

come back stronger as a community,” Nephew said. “As President & CEO, I look

forward to building important connections, not only within the Seneca community,

but with our neighbors, team members and guests each and every day.”

Visit our website

SENECA RESORTS & CASINOS PAGE 10