- Details
- By Levi Rickert
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The largest Indian gaming organization in the country decided to drop “National” from its title because the “NIGA” acronym was considered offensive if misinterpreted or mispronounced.
A name change was announced at the National Indian Gaming Association’s 2022 Tradeshow and Convention at the annual membership meeting in Anaheim, Calf. on Wednesday.
The new name of the organization is now the Indian Gaming Association (IGA). Established in 1985 as a non-profit organization, the board of directors approved the name change last year and has been working on all legal matters related to changing the name.
“This has been in the works for a long time. In the old days, people put together this amazing organization and will live with a lot of energy. The acronym just was not comfortable in the world we live in,” Ernie Stevens, Jr., chairman and spokesperson of the IGA said to Native News Online.
“People may misinterpret or even mispronounce our old acronym. We view it as a housekeeping item we wanted to clear up. We have never mispronounced our old acronym, but we wanted to clear it up,” Stevens continued.
IGA’s tradeshow and convention kicked off on Tuesday at the Anaheim Convention Center. The annual convention attracts over 5,000 tribal casino administrators and staff. and those seeing to do business with tribal gaming facilities.
IGA is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has over 250 tribes as members representing tribal gaming casinos and resorts across the United States.
The tradeshow and convention ends on Friday.
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsUS Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Native News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
Catholic Church has New Pope: Leo XIV
Tribes, Lawmakers Unite at California State Capitol to Honor MMIP
Can we take a minute to talk about tribal sovereignty?
Our mission draws from the warrior spirit that has sustained Indigenous peoples for generations — the same spirit that drives us to stand guard over tribal rights through relentless investigation and fearless reporting.
Sovereignty isn't just a concept – it's the foundation of Native nations' right to govern, protect our lands, and preserve our cultures. Every story we publish strengthens tribal sovereignty.
Unlike mainstream media, we center Indigenous voices and report directly from Native communities. When we cover land rights, water protection, or tribal governance, we're not just sharing news – we're documenting our living history and defending our future.
Our journalism is powered by readers, not shareholders. If you believe in the importance of Native-led media in protecting tribal sovereignty, consider supporting our work today.
