{"id":515556,"date":"2026-05-04T10:38:52","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T15:38:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/?p=515556"},"modified":"2026-05-04T14:31:28","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T19:31:28","slug":"nafoa-5-things-you-need-to-know-this-week-may-4-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2026\/05\/04\/nafoa-5-things-you-need-to-know-this-week-may-4-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"NAFOA: 5 Things You Need to Know This Week (May 4, 2026)"},"content":{"rendered":" <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2026\/05\/04\/nafoa-5-things-you-need-to-know-this-week-may-4-2026\/nafoa-231\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-515638\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" data-attachment-id=\"515638\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2026\/05\/04\/nafoa-5-things-you-need-to-know-this-week-may-4-2026\/nafoa-231\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/04\/NAFOA-1.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1200,900\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"NAFOA\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;NAFOA&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Thank you to everyone who joined us for #NAFOA2026 in Reno last week! A special shout-out to our 193 Member Tribes, especially our host, the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California. Pictured: Washoe Chairman Serrell Smokey giving the host Tribe welcome remarks at #NAFOA2026. Photo courtesy &lt;a href=https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/nafoa\/newsletter-05042026?e=a53ed034df&gt;NAFOA&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/04\/NAFOA-1.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/04\/NAFOA-1.jpg\" alt=\"NAFOA\"   class=\"size-full wp-image-515638\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\"> Thank you to everyone who joined us for #NAFOA2026 in Reno last week! A special shout-out to our 193 Member Tribes, especially our host, the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California. Pictured: Washoe Chairman Serrell Smokey giving the host Tribe welcome remarks at #NAFOA2026. Photo courtesy <a href=https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/nafoa\/newsletter-05042026?e=a53ed034df>NAFOA<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n<div class=\"h3-responsive font-weight-bold\">5 Things You Need to Know This Week (May 4, 2026)<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">Thank you for a successful #NAFOA2026! See you in Santa Fe this Fall!<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"date\">Monday, May 4, 2026<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source\">Source: NAFOA<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source-links\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nafoa.org\">nafoa.org<\/a><\/div>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\"><em>1. NAFOA NEWS<\/em><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">NAFOA Honors Recipients of 19th Annual Leadership Awards<\/div>\r\nEach year, the NAFOA Leadership Awards recognize the achievements of Tribal leaders, Tribal executives, advocates, and financial ventures driving economic progress within Indian Country. The 19th Annual Leadership Awards were presented at the 44th Annual Conference in Reno, NV, last week on, April 28.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Education Program of the Year: Walker River Paiute Economic Development Authority Emerging Business Leaders<\/li>\r\n<li>\r\nExecutive of the Year: Jon Panamaroff (Native Village of Afognak), Chief Executive Officer of Command Holdings, a Pequot Company<\/li>\r\n<li>\r\nBusiness Impact Deal of the Year: Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians 2025 Construction Financing<\/li>\r\n<li>\r\nGovernment Impact Deal of the Year: Metlakatla Power &#038; Light (MP&#038;L) and Native American Bank (NAB) Metlakatla Intertie Financing<\/li>\r\n<li>\r\nTribal Leader of the Year: Chairwoman Erica M. Pinto, Jamul Indian Village of California<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<a class=\"btn btn-primary btn-block\" href=\"https:\/\/nafoa.org\/nafoa-announces-recipients-of-19th-annual-leadership-awards\/\" role=\"button\">Continue Reading<\/a>\r\n\r\n <p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\"><em>2. MUST READ<\/em><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">Tribes harness industry experience to enter new markets<\/div>\r\nA new analysis of the Center for Indian Country Development\u2019s (CICD\u2019s) Native Entity Enterprises Dataset (NEED) finds that tribes with gaming operations and federal contracts tend to own more businesses than those without a footprint in those industries. But despite the importance of gaming and federal contracting to tribal revenue streams, tribes operate a majority of their businesses in other industries.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nTribally owned businesses boost tribal economies and contribute to local and regional economies across the United States. They foster economic development in their communities, offer employment opportunities, and provide revenue streams to help tribal governments fund public services. And in past analysis of the NEED, CICD has found that many tribes\u2019 business portfolios are varied.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nSource: Center for Indian Country Development \/ Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis\r\n<a class=\"btn btn-primary btn-block\" href=\"https:\/\/www.minneapolisfed.org\/article\/2026\/tribes-harness-industry-experience-to-enter-new-markets\" role=\"button\">Continue Reading<\/a>\r\n\r\n <p><\/p>\r\n <div class=\"h5-responsive sub\"><em>3. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT<\/em><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">It\u2019s Not Too Late to Register! In-Person Introductory Tribal Finance and Accounting Certificate\r\nMay 19-22, 2026 | Stillwater, OK<\/div>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe Introductory Tribal Finance &#038; Accounting Certificate Program is offered by the Center for the Future of Work at Oklahoma State University in partnership with NAFOA.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThis four-day cohort program provides the opportunity to connect with other tribal peers while gaining knowledge and experience to help become a more effective Tribal finance\/accounting professional and leader. You will have the opportunity to interact with and learn from other tribal finance\/accounting professionals throughout the state and across the country.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nCost: $1,850 NAFOA members and $2,000 nonmembers\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nRegistration includes: instruction, materials, gifts, breakfasts, lunches, receptions, refreshments, certificates\/certificate holders, group photo, credit fee and one copy of &#8220;Financial Reporting and Information Guide for Tribal Governments and Enterprises (Orange Book)&#8221; as published by NAFOA.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<a class=\"btn btn-primary btn-block\" href=\"https:\/\/business.okstate.edu\/cfw\/programs\/intro-tribal-fin-acct-cert\" role=\"button\">Learn More & Register<\/a>\r\n\r\n <p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\"><em>4. FROM THE NAVIGATOR<\/em><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">Strategic Power: How energy sovereignty strengthens Tribal economies<\/div>\r\nBy KeyBank\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nAs tribal nations continue their journey of economic self-determination, 2026 presents a pivotal moment. According to the National Indian Gaming Commission, tribal gaming revenues reached an unprecedented $43.9 billion in 2024, today tribal leaders are increasingly focused on adding diversified energy strategies that will support their communities for generations. Digital transformation, energy sovereignty efforts, and evolving regulations are changing how tribes plan, manage, and fund new economic opportunities.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cSovereignty is not just a legal status\u2014it\u2019s an economic strategy\u201d \u2013 Ben Rechkemmer, Group Head KeyBank Native American Financial Services.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<a class=\"btn btn-primary btn-block\" href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1I6C8_veWDwhF_tvhKb72JU0GUdlRxb1_\/view\" role=\"button\">Download & Read the NAFOA Navigator (pg 69-71)<\/a>\r\n\r\nIf you are experiencing issues with the link, visit nafoa.org\/conference for the direct link to the Navigator.\r\n\r\n <p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\"><em>5. JOB<\/em><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">Vice President of Finance, Sycuan Casino Resort<\/div>\r\nSycuan Casino Resort is seeking a dynamic and forward thinking Vice President of Finance, a strategic partner who brings both financial expertise and the ability to influence operational decisions at the highest level. This executive level role will oversee all financial operations, guide senior leaders through data driven insights, and shape the financial strategy that drives long term organizational success.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<a class=\"btn btn-primary btn-block\" href=\"https:\/\/nafoa.org\/job\/sycuan-casino-resort-el-cajon-ca-full-time-vice-president-of-finance\/\" role=\"button\">Learn More & Apply at nafoa.org\/jobs<\/a>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"That&#8217;s a wrap on another successful #NAFOA2026! Next up: Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the fall.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":515638,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,67,1],"tags":[38,2436,71,121,284,138,36,521,127,5381],"class_list":["post-515556","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-indian-gaming","category-national","tag-california","tag-ccid","tag-economic-development","tag-employment","tag-energy","tag-meetings","tag-nafoa","tag-nevada","tag-oklahoma","tag-sycuan","no-wpautop"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/04\/NAFOA-1.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcoJ7g-2a7q","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/515556","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=515556"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/515556\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":515641,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/515556\/revisions\/515641"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/515638"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=515556"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=515556"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=515556"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}