(November 26, 2025) — As we observe Native American Heritage Month this month and recognize Friday, November 28, as Native American Heritage Day, I want to take a moment to reflect on how profoundly our Tribal Nations have shaped the identity of this country. Our way of life existed here long before America was America. Our teachings, our stewardship of the land, our systems of leadership, and our strength as community-driven peoples helped shape what would eventually become the United States.
Where I come from, the Puyallup Tribe, in the Northwest, our Canoe culture is a powerful example of this. The coastal Tribal Nations of the Northwest built the first highway systems of this region on the water. Our canoes traveled the waterways for trade, for family, and for potlatch. That connection still lives today. You see it in the modern maritime world. You see it in our canoe journey that brings Tribal communities together each year. Those teachings about respect, responsibility, protocol, and how to carry yourself, both on the water and while visiting tribal communities, are values that run deep in the fabric of the Pacific Northwest, and they have also influenced American culture more than most people realize.
I also want to take time to honor our elders and our ancestors. As a young man, I heard people say that we are who our ancestors prayed for, fought for, and sacrificed for. I did not fully understand that until I became a father myself. I have five children and five grandchildren, and through them I see clearly what our elders meant. We repay our ancestors by carrying forward their teachings. We do it by preparing the next generation for the challenges ahead, by taking care of our communities, and by reminding our young people that their responsibilities matter. One day, they will step into leadership roles and be the ones praying for the generations who follow. I always give thanks to our elders for the paths they carved and the strength they’ve passed down to us.
Today, our influence continues in new ways. Indian gaming is one of the clearest examples. It is not only an economic driver. It is how we build schools, support language revitalization, strengthen services for elders, support youth programs, and invest in the health of our communities. Indian gaming also benefits regions off reservation lands. Local economies in rural counties and major cities are stronger because of Tribal investment and Tribal enterprise.
As Chairman of the Indian Gaming Association, I am proud of our Tribal Nations who continue to lead, teach, and move forward positively. We honor our ancestors not only by remembering them, but by building for the next generation the same way they built for us.
Native American Heritage Month is a reminder that Native people are not just part of history. We are here. We are active. We are shaping the direction of this country today, just as we helped shape it from the beginning.