Erica Ayisi
PBS Wisconsin + ICT
ONEIDA, Wis. — Mourners from across Indian Country gathered Friday at a public memorial service in Oneida to pay their respects to longtime Indian Gaming Association Chairman Ernest L. “Ernie” Stevens Jr.
Stevens died last week at age 66, just weeks after he was recognized in Milwaukee for leading the association during a time when tribal gaming operations nationwide reached record revenues of more than $43 billion in 2024.
Friday’s event was held at the Oneida Nation Elementary School, where hundreds of people of all ages came to celebrate Stevens’ legacy and pay their respects to an Indian Country giant.
Mark Macarro, chairman of the Pechanga Band of Indians and president of National Congress of American Indians, said Stevens was larger than life and made people feel seen.
“There are so many hallmarks that define Ernie, especially being undefineable,” Macarro said. “Being here so far, at this wake, there are so many people from Indian Country that he has brought together – that’s classic Ernie. As chairman of Indian Gaming Association and as a human. He connected with people, he unified people, he had the power of creating unity, calling for unity and creating it and living it.”
Susan Masten, former chair of the Yurok Tribe, said Stevens was a humble and gracious leader who showed love and respect to everyone.
Stevens, a citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, was the treasurer when Masten served as president for National Congress of American Indians. She said Stevens and his family also became hers.
“We all work really hard for Indian Country, and a close bond is developed when you’re in the trenches together fighting for sovereignty of Indian Country,” Masten said. “He was a prominent figure in this time.”
Stevens labored tirelessly to elevate the Indian Gaming Association into one of the most effective voices on Capitol Hill, working with Congress, tribal leaders and federal agencies.
David Bean, Puyallup Tribe of Indians, worked closely with Stevens at the Indian Gaming Association serving as vice chairman.
Bean described Stevens as a Native-warrior superhero and that Stevens lived up to everything he had heard about him prior to working with him.
Above all else, Bean said Stevens was a family man and that his shoes will be incredibly hard to fill.
“Loving husband, loving father, loving grandfather, but he was also a fierce warrior in protection of tribal sovereignty, Indian gaming and promoting economic diversification,” Bean said. “But he loved all, everywhere he went he made time from the youngest child to the eldest elder, and everyone in between.”
Funeral services are scheduled to take place Saturday in Oneida.