The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) recently awarded Kaw Gaming, Inc. their Tribal Gaming Visionary award in recognition for leadership demonstrated within the tribal gaming sector and for efforts to acquire goods and services from American Indian-owned businesses.

The prestigious Indian Gaming Visionary Award is given to an individual, gaming leadership, gaming enterprise or tribal leadership for his or her efforts in promoting Native-to-Native business together with exemplary contributions to create jobs for Native people and community. The Kaw Nation was selected on account of their diligence in utilizing Native-owned businesses to create jobs for Native Americans, promoting economic growth and sustainability through their SouthWind Casino enterprise.

The Kaw Nation, which operates Kaw Gaming, Inc. and owns multiple casinos in northern Oklahoma, was the primary and only tribe to move through a two-part approval process in Oklahoma for Indian Gaming Land Trust Development. These changes were initiated from top tribal leaders who worked hand-in-hand with the gaming enterprise to create a path of financial synergy to grow its casino presence in northern Oklahoma. Kaw Nation and Kaw Nation Gaming Enterprise maximized the positioning by opening its newest Braman Casino and thereby increased profits for the nation.

Each year the NCAIED presents five national awards in the course of the annual Reservation Economic Summit in Las Vegas. NCAIED Board Members make nominations through a competitive process until the general winners are selected by vote. Kaw Nation competed against numerous other Tribal Nations before receiving the award.

President of the Board of Directors Erin Kekahbah and Chief Operating Officer Pam Shaw of Kaw Gaming, Inc. accepted the award—a special drum—on behalf of the Kaw Nation. “We are so honored to bring this prestigious award home to Oklahoma,” commented Shaw. “I am so pleased with our tribal leadership for his or her visionary efforts which are setting an example for tribes across the country.”

Former NCAIED Board Member and Oklahoma tribal advocate Margo Gray added, “Our goal on the National Center is to create opportunities for Native-owned businesses to thrive in Indian Country and work with progressive tribal nations whose leadership understands the significance of Nativeto-Native business, which creates commerce and jobs while protecting tribal sovereignty. Kaw Nation is a wonderful example of this."

Read More... [Source: Gaming Industry News]