Category: News

Chairman Pierite was selected by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to help advise on federal tax policies affecting Tribal Nations.

MARKSVILLE, La. – Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana Chairman Marshall Pierite has been appointed to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Treasury Tribal Advisory Committee (TTAC), a seven-member committee that provides recommendations on federal tax policies affecting Tribal governments, enterprises and citizens nationwide.

Pierite is one of three new committee members appointed by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Established under the Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act of 2014, the TTAC advises the Treasury secretary on matters related to Tribal taxation, training for Internal Revenue Service field agents and technical assistance for Tribal financial officers. The committee provides Tribal leaders with a direct forum to offer recommendations on federal policies that impact Tribal economies and government operations.

“Federal tax policy may be decided in Washington, but its impact is felt in our communities, in the businesses we build, the services we provide and the opportunities we create for our children,” said Tunica-Biloxi Chairman Marshall Pierite. “I’ve spent more than 30 years working to strengthen our Tribe, and I know how much is at stake. Tribal sovereignty has to mean something in practice. I intend to make sure the realities facing Tribal governments are part of these conversations and advocate for policies that respect our right to determine our own future.”

A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Pierite brings more than three decades of experience in Tribal governance, economic development and public service to the committee. Throughout his leadership of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe, he has worked to advance Tribal sovereignty, expand economic opportunities and strengthen partnerships between Tribal governments and federal agencies. His experience includes Tribal government operations, budgeting, infrastructure development and tax policy. In recognition of his leadership and contributions to Tribal economic development, Pierite was named the Native American Finance Officers Association’s 2022 Tribal Leader of the Year.

The appointment also builds on Pierite’s experience advocating for Tribal interests at the federal level. He previously served on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s inaugural Tribal Intergovernmental Advisory Committee, established to strengthen government-to-government relationships and elevate Tribal perspectives in federal housing policy.

“Every Tribe has its own history, priorities, and economic circumstances, and the best federal policies are informed by the people who understand those realities firsthand,” Treasurer of the United States Brandon Beach wrote in an Oct. 13 letter welcoming Pierite to the committee. “That is why your service to the TTAC matters.”

As the committee prepares to establish its priorities for the coming year and coordinate its next public meeting, Pierite will work alongside fellow Tribal leaders to advance practical recommendations that address the challenges facing Tribal governments, strengthen economic self-determination and expand opportunities for future generations.

For more information on the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, visit www.tunicabiloxi.org.

Tunica-Biloxi Chairman delivers invocation at White House conference, strengthens partnerships and explores housing opportunities for Tribal communities

Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana Chairman Marshall Pierite recently participated in several engagements in Washington, D.C., strengthening relationships with federal officials and fellow Tribal leaders while advancing priorities that can benefit the Tribe and Indian Country.

On Tuesday, September 22, Chairman Pierite attended the White House Tribal Leadership Conference, where he delivered the invocation and provided remarks before Tribal leaders and senior federal officials from across the country.

The conference offered opportunities to hear directly from administration officials and engage on issues affecting Tribal nations, including sovereignty, economic opportunity, infrastructure, public safety, federal services and stronger government-to-government coordination.

Speakers included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, Treasurer of the United States Brandon Beach and Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs William “Billy” Kirkland. Kathy Burgum also addressed addiction and recovery efforts in Native communities.

“Our responsibility is to make sure our citizens’ needs and our Tribe’s priorities are heard at the national level,” said Chairman Pierite. “These relationships create opportunities to protect our sovereignty, strengthen our economy and explore solutions that can improve life in our communities. We want to turn those conversations into lasting benefits for the Tunica-Biloxi people and Indian Country.”

The evening before the conference, the Native American Coalition for Economic Prosperity hosted a mixer in partnership with Colusa Indian Energy and the Coalition of Large Tribes. The gathering brought together Tribal leaders, administration officials and partners to exchange ideas, strengthen relationships and identify opportunities for collaboration. As NACEP’s founder and president, Chairman Pierite continues to connect Tribal nations and expand economic opportunities throughout Indian Country.

While in Washington, Chairman Pierite also attended HUD’s 2026 Innovative Housing Showcase on the National Mall. The “Made in America” showcase featured manufactured, modular, 3D-printed and other housing technologies designed to increase supply, lower construction costs and make homeownership more attainable. The showcase provided an opportunity to explore approaches that could help address housing needs in Tribal communities.

Chairman Pierite’s participation reflects the Tribe’s continued commitment to maintaining a strong federal presence, building partnerships across Indian Country and identifying opportunities that can produce meaningful, long-term benefits for Tunica-Biloxi citizens.

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Tunica-Biloxi tribal citizens Jeffery P. Brian and Rose Pierite White stand in front of Chief Joseph A. Pierite Sr.’s trading post on the reservation, which was operated as a diplomatic effort to raise awareness about the tribe’s culture and history, 1976.

The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana today announced the launch of the first tribal prediction market app through SaltTrade Derivatives, a newly established subdivision of a Tribal-owned enterprise. The new app will be powered by Kalshi.

The partnership marks another significant step in the Tribe’s ongoing work to exercise its economic independence, diversify its portfolio, and build sustainable sources of revenue for future generations. It creates a path for other sovereign Tribal nations to participate as innovators in an emerging sector of the American financial economy.

Through the collaboration, the Tribe will draw upon Kalshi’s established infrastructure and market expertise to develop a distinct Tribal-owned trading application. Participants will be able to use the app to trade event contracts tied to the outcomes of future events in a structured marketplace on Kalshi with clearly defined rules and objectively verifiable results.

“This partnership represents exactly the type of opportunity Indian Country should be pursuing, where Tribes are owners, innovators and leaders, not just participants,” said Tunica-Biloxi Chairman Marshall Pierite. “For generations, the Tunica-Biloxi people have adapted, traded and built relationships that allowed our Nation to prosper. This initiative carries that tradition into the modern economy and demonstrates what is possible when Tribal entrepreneurship is paired with emerging technology and innovative vision.”

The initiative builds upon the Tribe’s history of establishing and overseeing enterprises that create economic opportunities. Through Tunica-Biloxi owned ventures such as MobiLoans, the Tribe has demonstrated its ability to operate responsibly in complex financial markets and build successful enterprises rooted in tribal tradition.

The Tribe’s new venture will focus on providing software for trading event contracts but may branch out into other offerings as opportunities arise. The app is being developed around market access, transparency and responsible oversight, with the Tribe bringing its experience with introducing customers to financial opportunities to the partnership.

“Tribal nations possess the business expertise to compete in the most innovative areas of the American economy,” Chairman Pierite said. “We are ushering in new opportunities for all Indian country and leading the effort to establish a framework through which Tribes across the country can create and control their own economic destinies.”

The announcement follows the issuance of a conditional no-action letter from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, providing an important framework for the Tribe’s participation in the industry, subject to the CFTC’s jurisdiction in the markets for event contracts and other derivatives it regulates. The venture also creates a pathway for Tribal nations to engage with the federal government and other tribal nations on a sovereign-to-sovereign basis while pursuing new opportunities for commerce and economic growth.

“Indian Country should have more paths to economic self-determination, not fewer and we’re proud to partner with the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe as the first tribal nation to enter prediction markets,” said Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour. “The debate can no longer be reduced to prediction markets on one side and Tribes on the other. What’s clear is that regulated national infrastructure and Tribal entrepreneurship can develop together — and one does not have to lose for the other to win.”

The partnership reflects the Tribe’s broader commitment to ensuring that Tribal nations are represented in the industries shaping the future of commerce. By moving into prediction markets with this application, the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe is creating a model through which Tribes can transform a longstanding tradition of adaptability and entrepreneurship into ownership, long-term revenue, and greater economic self-determination.

The venture’s name, SaltTrade Derivatives, honors the Tunica-Biloxi people’s history as pioneering salt traders who built prosperity through commerce and trade centuries ago. This newly announced venture continues that legacy of economic opportunity as a Tribal Nation, reflecting the Tribe’s enduring commitment to “cherishing our past and building for our future.”

Additional information regarding the platform and its launch will be announced in the coming months. Learn more about the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana and its enterprises at tunicabiloxi.org. SaltTrade Derivatives will not be registered with the CFTC, in reliance on conditional no-action relief issued by the staff of the CFTC.

Why the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe Is Entering Prediction Markets

Marshall Pierite
Chairman and CEO of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana

For generations, Native American communities have fought for something many Americans take for granted: the ability to determine our own future by creating and controlling our own destinies. We have fought to protect our lands, preserve our cultures, exercise our governmental authority and build economies capable of competing and thriving in the modern marketplace.

Today, that same principle of self-determination is leading the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana into prediction markets. Through SaltTrade Derivatives, a new Tribally-owned venture developed in partnership with Kalshi, we intend to participate and help shape this emerging industry as owners and innovators.

Our decision will generate discussion and debate. Some Tribal nations and state governments have raised concerns about prediction markets, particularly contracts involving sporting events and whether certain products cross the line into gaming. Those questions are being contested in courts and regulatory proceedings. We respect those concerns, and we respect the sovereign right of every Tribal nation to reach its own conclusion.

We have not seen any evidence that prediction market revenues come at the expense of tribal gaming revenue. Tribal gaming hit a record $46.2 billion in gross gaming revenue in fiscal 2025, and growth accelerated in most NIGC regions during the same period prediction markets expanded — including regions where Tribes have litigation pending against prediction market operators. What we see is an enormous opportunity to modernize – it’s not a threat to existing revenue, it’s a new revenue stream that didn’t exist before. 

Further, we expect some tribes, particularly those with established, high-revenue gaming operations, will say the Tribe is ‘selling out’ Tribal gaming or that this is bad for Indian Country. But that reaction often comes from a position of strength that not every tribe shares. For tribes without the same access to lucrative gaming markets or major metropolitan populations, prediction markets represent a new and meaningful source of revenue. 

Tribal sovereignty means a nation gets to decide for itself what is best for its people. Tunica-Biloxi is doing exactly that: creating a new source of economic opportunity, and doing it on its own terms.

We will also continue to defend Indian gaming. Congress enacted the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to promote tribal economic development, self-sufficiency and strong tribal governments. Gaming has created jobs and funded health care, education, housing, infrastructure and elder services across Indian Country. The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe knows that story firsthand.

But protecting what we have built should not prevent us from pursuing what comes next. 

Prediction markets operate within a federally regulated financial marketplace where participants buy and sell event contracts tied to objectively verifiable outcomes involving  economics, elections, weather, technology, entertainment, sports, and other events. Just like traditional commodity futures, participants compete in the open market.

We are partnering with Kalshi to power our prediction markets software application because it will allow us to plug directly into Kalshi’s existing exchange, and from day one its traders draw on the same global liquidity pool as every other Kalshi participant nationwide. 

Indian Country should absolutely have a seat at the table while this industry is being built. Too often in American history, Native nations have been invited into emerging industries only after the infrastructure, ownership, and wealth were established by others. We should not accept that model anymore. By entering this market as an owner of a prediction markets app, the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe is exercising its sovereignty and helping open another potential pathway for Native economic participation.

Sovereignty must mean more than the right to defend the industries we already have. It must include the freedom to build new ones.

The larger question is whether Native nations will participate as owners, innovators and trailblazers in an emerging financial industry – or watch another generation of American economic development pass us by. For Tunica-Biloxi, the answer is clear: we will not simply wait for opportunity to reach Indian Country. We intend to take our place in shaping this industry from the beginning.

That choice is not an abandonment of tribal gaming, and it is not a demand that every tribe follow us. Some tribes may decide prediction markets are not right for them. Others may participate. Some may challenge particular products while exploring opportunities elsewhere in the industry. That is sovereignty. Economic sovereignty does not require economic uniformity.

 Tribal gaming  was once considered controversial and uncertain, and debate over it continues today. Tribal leaders endured difficult legal and political battles because they understood a fundamental truth: economic independence strengthens sovereignty. For the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe, gaming has been transformative, and we will continue to protect it. But the next chapter of tribal economic development will not be written by a single industry. It will be written by tribes willing to diversify, innovate, and pursue opportunities in  markets where Native ownership has historically been absent.

For too much of our history, others made economic decisions for Native people. Those days are over.

The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe is entering prediction markets because sovereignty must include the freedom to build new industries, govern our own businesses, and create opportunities for generations we may never meet. For too much of our history, others decided what Native people could build, own, and become. Those days are over.  We intend to shape what comes next.

When COVID-19 isolated Americans, health officials of the Tunica-Biloxi tribe of Louisiana knew they needed to work faster.

MARKSVILLE, La. — When COVID-19 isolated Americans, health officials of the Tunica-Biloxi tribe of Louisiana knew they needed to work faster. 

The tribe had established a need for a rural health clinic just a year before the pandemic pushed community health needs — like vaccinations and clinical care — to the surface. 

“We knew we didn’t have the experience or expertise in hand to address [COVID],” said tribe chairman and CEO Marshall Pierite. 

So, the tribe hired a chief medical officer, Dr. Arthur Webb, who was previously based in Washington D.C., to organize vaccination efforts with tribe members. 

“He had other experience dealing with Native Americans,” Pierite said. “He’s the one who actually started planting the seed for a clinic.”

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About the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana

The Tunica-Biloxi people first appeared in the Mississippi Valley. In the late 1700s, they settled near south of Marksville in east-central Louisiana. Today, the Tribe has more than 1,600 members throughout the United States, primarily in Louisiana, Texas, and Illinois. The modern Tunica-Biloxi Tribe is composed of Tunica, Biloxi (a Siouan-speaking people from the Gulf Coast), Ofo (also a Siouan people), Avoyel (a Natchezan people), and Choctaw. Although ancestry is typically intermixed through marriages, tribal members typically identify either as Tunica, Biloxi or Biloxi-Choctaw. The tribe owns and operates the Paragon Casino Resort, the largest employer in Central Louisiana. For more information about the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, visit https://www.tunicabiloxi.org/ and “like” us on Facebook.

October event will support the Mary Bird Perkins Foundation and create a space of encouragement for families affected by cancer.

MARKSVILLE, LA – [August 10, 2026] – The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, will welcome runners, walkers, survivors, caregivers and community supporters to the Healing Tribal Strong 5K Walk/Run on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at Tunica-Biloxi Reservation in Marksville.

Presented in partnership with the Marksville and Avoyelles Parish communities, the event offers participants an opportunity to celebrate cancer survivors, support those undergoing treatment and honor loved ones lost to cancer. Proceeds will benefit the Mary Bird Perkins Foundation, helping support cancer-related resources and services for patients and families throughout the region.

“Events like Healing Tribal Strong bring our community together in a powerful way, showing those affected by cancer that they are supported every step of the journey,” said Tunica-Biloxi Chairman Marshall Pierite. “This 5K is an opportunity for our community to uplift one another, honor the resilience of those battling cancer and stand united in hope for healing and strength.”

The 5K is part of the Tribe’s broader Healing Tribal Strong initiative, which supports the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of survivors, patients, caregivers and their loved ones. Monthly virtual meetings, held on the first Sunday of each month from 4 to 4:30 p.m., provide a welcoming space to share experiences, offer encouragement and learn about nutrition, fitness and overall wellness.

The October race will extend that circle of support to the wider community through a day of movement, remembrance and fellowship. In addition to the walk/run, attendees can visit local vendors offering fresh produce, handmade goods and other items.

The Healing Tribal Strong 5K will take place at 150 Melacon Rd. in Marksville. The race start time, registration schedule and additional event details will be announced as they are finalized. Registration is open to participants of all ages and fitness levels. Sponsorship and vendor opportunities are also available for businesses and organizations interested in supporting the event.

For more information about the event and to register, visit healingtribalstrong.com and for more information on the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, visit tunicabiloxi.org.

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Media Contact:

Madison Voorhies

318-880-3323

mvoorhies@tegpr.com

About the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana

The Tunica-Biloxi people first appeared in the Mississippi Valley. In the late 1700s, they settled near south of Marksville in east-central Louisiana. Today, the Tribe has more than 1,600 members throughout the United States, primarily in Louisiana, Texas, and Illinois. The modern Tunica-Biloxi Tribe is composed of Tunica, Biloxi (a Siouan-speaking people from the Gulf Coast), Ofo (also a Siouan people), Avoyel (a Natchezan people), and Choctaw. Although ancestry is typically intermixed through marriages, tribal members typically identify either as Tunica, Biloxi or Biloxi-Choctaw. The tribe owns and operates the Paragon Casino Resort, the largest employer in Central Louisiana. For more information about the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, visit https://www.tunicabiloxi.org/ and “like” us on Facebook.

Tribe coordinates with state and local officials on recovery efforts; Paragon Casino Resort to provide meals and daily water deliveries to shelter locations.

The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana and Paragon Casino Resort announces emergency support for residents and families displaced by significant flooding caused by the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur.

The Tribe has requested a State of Emergency Declaration and continues to coordinate with state and local officials regarding emergency response and recovery support. Following the severe flooding, Governor Jeff Landry personally reached out to Chairman Marshall Pierite to offer the State’s assistance and support recovery efforts in Avoyelles Parish. Tribal leadership then met with Governor Landry, and parish, state and Tribal officials discussed ongoing damage assessments, emergency shelter operations, infrastructure impacts and the coordination of available state resources to assist affected residents. The Governor’s Office, in coordination with Avoyelles Parish officials, will work to provide necessary resources through the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), as well as implement mosquito abatement efforts as a precautionary measure following the flooding.

Residents are encouraged to limit outdoor activity during evening and nighttime hours when possible and to take appropriate precautions to protect their pets from increased mosquito activity. Governor Landry emphasized that state agencies will continue working alongside parish and Tribal leaders to identify immediate needs, streamline recovery efforts and ensure available assistance reaches impacted communities as quickly as possible. Residents are encouraged to report storm-related damage by visiting damage.la.gov to assist state and local officials in assessing impacts and coordinating recovery resources.

“We are doing everything we can at this current time to bring as much relief as we can,” said Governor Landry during a press conference. “The amount of rainfall was simply historic. … This is going to be a complete community effort and a neighborhood effort.”

“Our Tribe has always understood that we are part of a larger community, and in moments like this, we have a responsibility to step forward,” said Chairman Marshall Pierite of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana. “Families across Avoyelles Parish are facing urgent needs, and we are committed to doing everything possible to help residents find support. We appreciate Governor Landry’s attention to this crisis and look forward to working with his administration, parish leaders and emergency response partners to ensure resources reach those who need them as quickly as possible.”

As recovery efforts continue across Avoyelles Parish, the American Red Cross is operating an emergency shelter at the Cochon de Lait Center, located at 1822 L’Eglise St. in Mansura, in response to widespread flooding caused by Tropical Storm Arthur. Tribal citizens in need of emergency assistance should refer to previously issued Tribal communications for designated emergency contact personnel and available resources. Paragon Casino Resort is also providing meal support and daily water deliveries to shelter locations to assist displaced individuals and families during the emergency response.

“Paragon Casino Resort is powered by this community, so when our neighbors are hurting, we are ready to serve,” said Marshall Ray Sampson, Sr., Vice Chairman of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe and General Manager of Paragon Casino Resort. “Providing meals and water to shelter locations is a practical and immediate way we can help families who have been displaced. Our team is coordinating closely with Tribal leadership to make sure those impacted have food, shelter and people ready to support them.”

The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe and Paragon Casino Resort will continue monitoring resource needs, coordinating with state and local officials regarding the emergency declaration status and evaluating additional opportunities to support residents throughout the recovery process. As Avoyelles Parish begins to recover, the Tribe and Paragon remain committed to helping ensure impacted families have access to safety, food, water and support.

Residents are encouraged to follow all guidance from local emergency officials and avoid flooded roadways or unsafe areas. Individuals facing immediate danger should call 911.

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WHEREAS, the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana is committed to protecting the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens, residents, employees, visitors, and tribal property; and

WHEREAS, the National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Warning and related flood advisories for portions of Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, associated with heavy rainfall and flooding impacts resulting from Post-Tropical Storm Arthur;

Direct Relief has partnered with the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe’s Health Department to install resilient power since 2024, delivering more than $514,000 in material support and grant and award funding to enhance the clinic’s wraparound services.

Today, a clinic founded by the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana’s Health Department serves 1,700 tribal members and more than 250 non-tribal patients. Wraparound services connect patients to nutrition assistance, case management, behavioral health services, and medical referrals, among other support.

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