2026 Veterans Day Message – David Z. Bean, Chairman, Indian Gaming Association

As we recognize Veterans Day during Native American Heritage Month, I want to honor our Native American veterans and all those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Our Native warriors have a long and proud history of answering the call to serve, protecting our homelands, our families, and our way of life. Their courage, sacrifice, and commitment to service are deeply rooted in the values passed down through generations of our Tribal Nations.

Native Americans have served this country with tremendous honor, even during times when our own people were denied many of the rights and freedoms they fought to protect. From our Code Talkers to the men and women serving in uniform today, our Native veterans have helped shape America’s military history. Their service reflects the strength of our people and our longstanding responsibility to protect future generations.

In our Tribal communities, we are taught that service is about something greater than ourselves. It is about caring for our people, honoring our responsibilities, and making sacrifices so the next generation has greater opportunities. Our veterans have lived those teachings through their service, and we owe them more than our gratitude. We owe them our continued commitment to their well-being.

That responsibility is also at the heart of tribal government gaming. Our industry was built on the principles of sovereignty, self-determination, and the right of Tribal Nations to provide for their people. Today, the resources generated through tribal government gaming give our Nations greater opportunities to honor that responsibility, including caring for the veterans who have given so much in service to this country.

Across Indian Country, Tribal governments are using gaming revenues to strengthen essential services that benefit veterans and their families. From housing assistance and healthcare to transportation, employment opportunities, veterans programs, and support for our elders, tribal government gaming helps provide resources that can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who served.

This is one of the most important success stories of tribal government gaming. The industry is about much more than casinos or economic development. It is about strengthening our Tribal governments so they can respond to the needs of their people. It is about having the resources to care for our elders, support our veterans, preserve our cultures, and provide opportunities for our children and grandchildren.

When we talk about protecting tribal government gaming and Tribal sovereignty, we are also talking about protecting the ability of our Nations to provide these essential services. Every effort to defend our sovereign rights and the integrity of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act is part of our larger responsibility to protect the resources our communities depend upon. Our veterans fought to defend this country, and we must continue working to defend the sovereign rights that allow our Tribal Nations to care for them when they return home.

At the Indian Gaming Association, we recognize the important role tribal government gaming plays in fulfilling these responsibilities. We remain committed to working alongside Tribal leaders and organizations to protect the industry our founders worked so hard to establish, ensuring that future generations of Tribal citizens, including our veterans and their families, continue to benefit from the opportunities it provides.

As we celebrate Native American Heritage Month, we are reminded that our people’s contributions to this country extend far beyond our Tribal communities. Our veterans are among the strongest examples of that contribution. They have served with honor, carried our traditions with pride, and demonstrated the courage and resilience that have sustained our Nations for generations.

Today, I raise my hands in honor and gratitude to our Native American veterans, to all who have worn the uniform, and to the families who have stood beside them. We remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, honor those who have returned home, and recognize those who continue to serve.

Our veterans have fulfilled their commitment to service. As Tribal Nations, we must continue fulfilling our commitment to them. Through the strength of our sovereignty, the success of tribal government gaming, and the values handed down by our ancestors, we have an opportunity to turn our gratitude into meaningful support.

On behalf of the Indian Gaming Association, thank you to every veteran for your courage, your sacrifice, and your service to our people and this country.

We honor your service, and we remain committed to protecting the resources and opportunities that help us care for you and future generations.