Indian Country is mourning the loss of Ernie Stevens Jr., a prominent member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, who walked on at the age of 66, his family announced Sept. 26.
Stevens was the current chairman of the Indian Gaming Association, a position he held for nearly 25 years. The IGA is a national nonprofit organization with a mission of protecting and preserving tribal sovereignty through economic self-sufficiency from gaming and other forms of economic development. It works with federal, state and tribal governments to develop policies and advocacy on gaming related issues.
During Stevens’ tenure, tribal gaming revenues across the country grew from $11 billion in 2000 to a record-breaking $43.9 billion in 2024, making tribal gaming the largest segment of the U.S. gaming industry.
Stevens was honored this summer for helping to achieve those record-breaking revenues at the Wisconsin Indian Gaming Regulatory Association Conference, which was held at the Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee.
“Ernie Stevens Jr. was more than a chairman; he was a warrior, a statesman and a champion for all of Indian Country,” said Jason Giles, executive directors of IGA, in a statement on social media.
“His vision and commitment built bridges across tribal nations, Congress and federal agencies, ensuring that tribal gaming remained a cornerstone of tribal self-determination and economic growth. His legacy will be unmatched, and his voice will echo for generations to come.”
Tributes poured in from around Indian Country for Stevens over the weekend.
Oneida Nation Chairman Tehassi Hill said Stevens was “an amazing man.”
“While he is widely known for his work in Indian gaming, our community and many others across Turtle Island know him for his unwavering support of his family, youth programming, and the pursuit of sovereignty protection,” Hill said in a statement. “Trail-blazing leaders such as Ernie pave the way for uncontested legacies, and the Nation will be forever grateful for his unselfish contributions.”
Oneida Nation flags will fly at half-staff until funeral services for Stevens are completed.
Former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, the first Indigenous person to hold the position, posted on social media that Stevens was always welcoming and ready to help.
“He was tremendously optimistic about the abilities of Indigenous people and displayed sharp, decisive leadership,” she wrote. “When I got news of his passing, I realized the difficulty in imagining this world without him. He will be missed. Offering deep condolences to his family.”
Tributes and condolences also came from leaders of tribal nations throughout Wisconsin.
“We will miss (Stevens’) leadership and especially his commitment to education and youth,” wrote Menominee Nation Chairman Joey Awonohopay on social media. “His legacy of service, mentorship and unwavering advocacy will live on in the generation he inspired.”
Forest County Potawatomi Community Chairman Brooks Boyd Sr., said his tribe also is mourning the sudden passing of Stevens.
“Ernie dedicated his life to empowering tribes,” Boyd said in a statement. He was a “mentor to countless leaders in Indian Country. His accomplishments and legacy will never be forgotten.”
Stevens grew up in Milwaukee, where his mother, Marj Stevens, was one of three Oneida mothers who founded the Indian Community School. The women were looking for a culturally relevant education free of racism, which they didn’t see happening in Milwaukee Public Schools, according to the mothers.
The school is still thriving today in Franklin.
As a teenager in the 1970s, Stevens co-founded the Soaring Eagle Boxing Club on the Oneida Reservation, which is still serving tribal youth today.
He served as an elected councilman of the Oneida Nation from 1993 to 1999 and as first vice president of the National Congress of American Indians.
As IGA Chairman during the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced tribal governments to close casinos, Stevens stressed the need for tribes to diversify economically because of their over-reliance on gaming.
Stevens leaves behind his wife of more than 45 years, Cheryl, his children, Brandon, Ernest III, Magaret, Maria and Lois, 20 grandchildren and many other family members.
A wake with community viewing is tentatively scheduled for 5 p.m. Oct. 3, at the Turtle School, N7125 Seminary Road, in Oneida, with a funeral service at the Oneida Longhouse on Oct. 4.
Frank Vaisvilas is a former Report for America corps member who covers Native American issues in Wisconsin based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact him at fvaisvilas@gannett.com or 815-260-2262. Follow him on X at @vaisvilas_frank.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Oneida’s Ernie Stevens Jr. led tribes to record revenues as gaming association chairman
Reporting by Frank Vaisvilas, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
