Erica M. Pinto has been appointed to serve on the Department of Interior’s newly formed Secretary Tribal Advisory Committee (STAC). Pinto is Chairwoman of the Jamul Indian Village (JIV) and her new position as the Pacific region’s primary STAC member means that she will represent over 100 tribes.
Pinto has been widely recognized as a pre-eminent tribal leader and honored with numerous awards and accolades for her leadership and influence. She was bestowed with the Warrior Award, which is the American Indian Chamber of Commerce’s highest honor.
US Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland appointed Pinto to this position and her one-year term began on June 15, 2022. Haaland hopes that STAC will ensure that tribal leaders across the US have direct communication with federal officials.
Members of the STAC will exchange views, share information, and provide advice and recommendations regarding DOI programs, policies and funding that affects tribal nations. The belief is that this committee will improve government-to-government relations between the DOI and tribes.
STAC is composed of a primary representative from each of the 12 Bureau Affairs regions as well as one alternate member from each region.
Haaland commented that: “Tribal members who are joining the first-ever STAC will be integral to ensuring tribal leaders can engage at the highest levels of the department on issues that matter most to their people.
“I look forward to continued engagement and ensuring that the department honors and strengthens our nation-to-nation relationships with tribes."
Pinto agrees that this new role should see an improved relationship between the US federal government and Native American tribes. She says: "I'm very honored to be chosen to serve as a guiding voice on the STAC. Representing my people on this scale and helping to shape policies that affect all tribes across the US will truly be one of the highlights of my life. I thank Secretary Haaland for appointing me to serve on the STAC."
Jamul Casino is located in California and is owned and operated by Jamul Indian Village Development Corporation (JIVDC), a wholly owned enterprise of the tribe. The $430m award-winning casino features nearly 1,700 slot machines, 46 live table games and a dedicated poker room.
