Harold Monteau, Former Chairman of the NIGC, Passes Away at 72

Former National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) Chairman Harold Monteau, who was a major figure in the establishment of the regulatory agency, passed away last week, on December 27, at the age of 72, at his home on the Rocky Boy Reservation in Montana.

The NICG and Chippewa Cree Tribe Say Farewell to Monteau 

In an official statement from the agency, it noted that Monteau was the Chairman of the NICG during a critical time after the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was passed in 1988. The agency explained that he played a major role in shaping the NICG’s framework and supporting the growth of Indian gaming. 

According to the agency, Monteau‘s efforts helped create standards that remain essential for maintaining the integrity and success of tribal gaming. The agency also stated that his leadership ensured that regulatory oversight respected tribal authority and addressed the specific needs of each nation.

Monteau, also called “Brings the Sweetgrass,” was a member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy. The tribe stated that Harold dedicated his life to Indian Country. They also noted that his leadership, especially in his role as Chairman of the NICG, left a legacy that would endure for generations.

Monteau Leaves a Rich Career Behind

Monteau led the Commission during its early years as he was appointed as chairman in 1994 by then-President Bill Clinton. This was still in the early years of the NIGC, which was a time when there was no existing structure for the rapidly growing tribal gaming industry. 

Phil Hogen, who is also a former NICG chairman, said the agency’s administrative and regulatory framework was formed under the guise of Monteau. He explained that the current state of the Indian gaming scene is a direct result of the foresight of that structure, which was established under Monteau’s direction.

We should also note that Monteau also had a distinguished career in the justice system as well. He has served as Chief Justice for the Mescalero Apache Tribe and also taught Indian law at the University of New Mexico and Rocky Boy’s Stone Child College.

In addition, he worked as an in-house attorney for the Chippewa Cree Tribe and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Monteau also provided legal counsel to the Department of the Interior’s BIA Task Force and its BIA Reorganization, helping the department support tribal self-determination and governance. Monteau’s last post at the time of his death was serving as Chief Justice for the Chippewa Cree Tribe.