James Siwa, Chairman of the California Native Tribes (CNIGA), has proposed broadening the authority of tribal leaders within the Indian Gaming Association (IGA) at a meeting convened in Anaheim. Siwa, expressing his candidacy for the vice-chairmanship position, announced his bid during the Western Indian Gaming Conference held in February. His contender for the role is David Z. Bean, the current president of the association hailing from the Washington Puyallup Tribe.
Siwa's bid for a leadership role reflects a broader trend of younger tribal leaders emerging onto the scene, as evidenced by his recognition as one of the two young tribal leaders featured on the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development's 2024 list of Emerging Indigenous Leaders. Justin Barrett, treasurer of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, shares this distinction.
The upcoming IGA elections, scheduled for April 9th during the annual conference, will serve as the platform for determining leadership positions. Each tribe, irrespective of size or population, will be granted one delegate and one vote, underscoring the democratic principles guiding the association's governance structure.
