JULY 15, 2004
Smoke Signals 7
NCJII 2004 "Renewing Connections,
Strengthening Self Determination"
If , - - -,
f" - 1 jy , lb? ifes m ; '
1
V 1
'' Os
V
i-mmf J ,. .
-- i
Maj or Event in September Kurt Russo (standing) who works for the Lummi Na
tion in Washington checks out the Museum of the American Indian exhibit booth at this year's
mid-year National Congress of American Indians conference in Uncasville, Connecticut. The
booth was manned by the museum's Amy Van Alien and Muskogee Tribal member Justin Giles
of the Creek Nation. The museum's opening is scheduled for September of this year.
International NCAI Recording Secretary Juanita Majel-Dixon of
the Temecula Band of Luiseno Mission Indians addresses the crowd at
NCAI during the International Indigenous Peoples Meeting. NCAI is in
its sixth year of trying to advance rights of Tribes all over the world
inregards to self determination, land rights, education and taxation.
" E C H R f,
Nv.
jttf v
A
. - t
4- "i JBftmtariL " ttv
-1
n
t u
,1 1 -
4- f-'
. 5? 7,,,
t)
-if
1
Successful Foxwoods Casino, which is owned and operated by the nearby Mashantucket
Pequot Tribe in Mashantucket, Connecticut (just eight miles from Uncasville) is the most suc
cessful casino operation in the world. The property has six casinos, several hotels, a number of
restaurants and a shopping mall.
Blown Glass This artistic blown glass art is a feature attraction
inside the Mohegan Sun Casino - the site of this year's NCAI mid-year
conference. The conference was hosted by the Mohegan Tribe. The
piece stretches from the floor to the ceiling and was created by
Northwest blown glass artist Dale Chiluly. According to Tribal
sources, the piece cost $ 1 million and it cost $3 million to move it to
Connecticut. In the background is an awesome indoor waterfall that
fronts for the casino's Tuscany restaurant. To get to the restaurant you
walk through the waterfall.
Photos by
Brent Merrill
Tall Glass
The Mohegan Sun
Casino is seen from
outside as it reaches into
the sky. The casino is the
pride and joy of the
owners and operators
the people of the
Mohegan Tribe. The
Mohegan Sun features
several casinos, restau
rants, hotels, shopping
malls, cultural exhibits
and an arena that is
home to the WNBA's
Connecticut Sun.
-j'X
- ' ' In; I ' ' P":.
r 1 ';n t
- - t '- J , ' , -' ; q
r-;rl; IT- ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ;
I r J -''u.fr""r'"' . , it
'w , I ... I
T " I . . , J Ik
"Hi'
r i