stanley crooks wins award chino turns over in grave!!!

NIGA HONORS SHAKOPEE CHAIRMAN CROOKSThe National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) has honored Shakopee Chairman Stanley Crooks, long-time leader of the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association, with the 2005 Wendell Chino Humanitarian Award for extraordinary leadership. The award was presented April 14th in San Diego at a banquet concluding NIGA’s 14th annual trade show and conference.

The award is named for Wendell Chino, a legendary tribal leader who served as chairman of the Mescalero Apache for 43 years. He was known as a great warrior who fought for tribal sovereignty and accomplished much for his people.

Kurt Luger, executive director of the Great Plains Indian Gaming Association, presented the award. Luger’s association includes tribes in North and South Dakota, many of whom still live in desperate poverty. He said Crooks and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community have donated more than $40 million over the past five years to other tribes and tribal organizations, as well as Indian and non-Indian community groups.

“They have in a traditional way given millions of dollars to the neediest among us,” Luger said. “They pay attention to the voiceless. They help us with our economic development and community projects. And they do it quietly, without fanfare or expectation of anything in return.”

Glynn Crooks, Vice Chairman of the Shakopee Sioux, accepted the award on his cousin’s behalf. “What a great honor has been bestowed upon our Chairman,” he said. “I know he would want me to accept this award on behalf of our entire community. Stan would be the first person to tell you that it’s not about him as an individual.”

Stanley Crooks has won the respect of tribal leaders throughout the nation for his quiet generosity and his strong commitment to sovereignty, said NIGA Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr. “Warriors help their people and give back to the community,” Stevens said. When we think about the true meaning of warrior, we think of Stanley Crooks.”

Crooks shared this year’s Wendell Chino Award with Richard Milanovich, Chairman of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in Palm Springs, CA.

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i am sure Wendell Chino is turning over in his Mescalero grave!!!