A Sudden Void By David Ross
he unexpected death of Indian Gaming Association Chairman Ernest L. Stevens Jr., (1959-2025) on September 26 left a void in the world of Indian gaming. He was a legend in Indian Country and was described as “warrior, statesman, champion.” Flags flew at half-staff at the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin upon his death.
The Indian Gaming Association observed, “Chairman Stevens dedicated more than two decades of his life to protecting and advancing tribal sovereignty through tribal-government gaming. Under his leadership, Indian gaming flourished, growing from $11 billion in revenues in 2000 to a record $43.9 billion in 2024, making tribal-government gaming the largest segment of the U.S. gaming industry.” He served 12 consecutive two-year terms as IGA chairman and had been elected to a 13th in April.
A member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin,Chairman Stevens walked the nation’s capital as a well-respected leader. Under his leadership, IGA grew in prestige and clout to its current membership of 250 tribes and 500 gaming establishments. Stevens once said, “Our membership is our strength and we are the strongest when our voice is unified.” A fierce defender of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, Stevens was a passionate collaborator with tribal leaders, Congress and federal agencies.
Tributes Pour In
Larry Wright Jr., National Congress of American Indians executive director, said on his passing, “He was a bridge builder whose leadership elevated Indian country and whose generosity lifted up so many of us.” He added, “Ernie had a gift for bringing people together. He believed in unity, and he proved that when Indian Country speaks with one voice, we not only win but we make lasting change.”
NCAI President Mark Macarro mourned, “We lost a warrior today. Ernie Stevens’s voice and work carried forth a family legacy of service with great honor. Not only a national leader, but a smoke dancer and cultural practitioner, he represented the best of what we aspire to be as leaders in Indian Country.”
Chris Stearns, speaker pro tem of the Washington State House of Representatives said, “The loss of a legend is just so hard to take ... Ernie was a friend and a lion of a man.”
Bill Miller, CEO of the American Gaming Association declared, “As chairman of the Indian Gaming Association for more than two decades, Ernie was a tireless and passionate advocate for Indian Country, and a unifying force in advancing tribal sovereignty through gaming.”Miller added added, “His work not only helped elevate tribal government gaming into a powerful driver of economic opportunity but also shaped the broader trajectory of our industry with his unwavering commitment to collaboration, integrity and inclusion.”
Phil Hogen, former IGA chairman said, “At a time when the Indian Gaming industry was experiencing exponential growth and challenges, it needed a dynamic and visionary leader. They found one in Ernie Stevens, and tribes and Indian communities are so much better off on account of Ernie’s leadership. He will be sorely missed.”
A Heavy Hitter
Two weeks before his death, Stevens spoke at the NCAI’s Impact Unity Days. At its press conference he said,
“We’re always about tribal sovereignty. . . it's not just about economic development, it's about tribal sovereignty, our governments, how we interact in today's world and to defend every aspect of tribal sovereignty.”
Stevens said, “My father worked a lot less, but he never stopped. He never quit and he’s the one that taught me about Capitol Hill. What you learn from the Hill is that your community sits on your shoulders. The responsibility you have to educate here in the nation’s capital is the responsibility given to you by your community.”
He harkened back to his ancestors: “I think it's important to appreciate that while there may be some tough times that we're dealing with, our ancestors dealt with even tougher times. Our ancestors had to do a lot more with a lot less.”
Born July 5, 1959 a member of the Oneida Tribe, Stevens — known as “Big Cat” — began his boxing career at 16, when in 1975 he co-founded the Soaring Eagle Boxing Club. He was four-time State Heavyweight Champion in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979, and twice National Indian Heavyweight Champion out of Carson City, Nevada, in 1977 and 1978.
Always passionate about sports, he became the youngest coach in Wisconsin, coaching basketball and soccer at UW-Barron. Throughout his life he hosted basketball camps, funded travel to tournaments and was committed to supporting young Indian athletes. He co-founded the Soaring Eagle Foundation, which helps indigenous youth reach their dreams.
He was a councilman of the Oneida Nation from 1993-1996 and in 1995 was elected first-vice-president of the NCAI. He was a member of the National Indian Athletic Association Hall of Fame and the Boys & Girls Club Alumni Hall of Fame. In 2013, he was named a Lifetime Member of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium’s Alumni Association and in 2015 was inducted into the AGA Hall of Fame.
He attended Haskell Indian Junior College, receiving an Associate Degree, and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Mount Senario College in1996. He also held a Masters in Management from the University of Phoenix, earned in 2021.
Veteran of Wounded Knee
He was married to his wife and best friend, Cheryl, for more than 45 years. They had five children and 20 grandchildren.
One friend noted that Stevens was always the last to leave events because he stopped to talk to everyone. He loved telling long stories and loved just as much listening to them. He always said how proud he was of his children, how he loved his wife, and how his character was shaped by strong women, especially his mother and grandmother.
When he was 13, his activist mother took him to stand alongside members of the American Indian Movement at the site of the massacre at Wounded Knee, a symbol of the Indian struggle. It was a struggle he never relinquished.
*** This Obituary was originally published in October edition of Casino Life Magazine Issue 182***
