Ep. 24 | IGA Executive Director Jason Giles

Episode 24 is the first of three interviews from The National Center's Washington, DC office, conducted over several days in May. And it just happens to be with the executive director of the organization (Indian Gaming Association) that owns our office space! 

Chris sat down with Jason Giles to learn more about his story - from growing up in "sleep farm town" as the son of a CIA analyst father and Attorney General of the Seminole Tribe of Oklahoma mother, to offensive lineman at West Point, to Marine, to attorney, and finally to running one of Indian Country's most important trade associations.

Jason also shares the story of IGA's office space, which was the home of the first Librarian of Congress and at one time the tallest building in Washington, DC. As Jason said, it is "Indian Country's building" and any tribal member visiting DC should stop by. Plus, you'll get the perspective on how the city has changed over the years, shared by someone raised in the DMV.

We hope you enjoy this episode - and please tell your friends and colleagues!

Indian Gaming Association |
https://indiangaming.org/

About the Indian Gaming Association's office building |
https://indiangaming.org/conference-center/

Chapters

• 1:13 Intro and DC Updates
• 5:01 Meeting Jason
• 7:36 Son of a "Spy"
• 10:45 Son of an AG
• 11:49 The Army Black Knights
• 20:08 From West Point to the Marines in a changing world
• 26:00 Native representation in the military
• 28:41 Benefits and challenges of military service
• 30:57 Hawaii in peacetime
• 34:12 Law School at a Big 10 school
• 38:13 Jason gets to IGA
• 40:28 The history of IGA's headquarters
• 47:03 IGA's advocacy
• 52:37 What's next for IGA
• 54:53 Gaming as an economic driver
• 59:24 Tribal-Federal relations and history
• 1:02:02 Wrap Up