Rob Schmidt, the undisputed authority (at least by us) on Native pop culture and publisher of   Blue Corn Comics,  recently attended the  National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) Trade Show in Phoenix.  Held each year, the show promotes the activities of NIGA, a non-profit trade association representing 184 Native nations.  While rubbing elbows at the event with the bold and the beautiful, Rob squeezed in time to file his impressions and other assorted goings-ons. So here it is…from the “Indian comics guy” himself…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By Rob Schmidt

(Comment:  Victor Rocha, owner of PECHANGA.net,  and I attended this event Tuesday night. We sat at a table with Adam's wife Tara and executives from the Aruzé Gaming company. She filled us in on Adam.) 

As emcee, Adam was his usual funny, charming, goofy  self. Tara noted   that he's always this way; there's never   a "down" moment around their house. 

Adam told the audience how he  got the threads he was wearing: a Japanese airline lost his luggage and bought him the suit to compensate. Tara told us that Adam was proud to have tied his first tie for this event.  

He reminded the audience that his Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee  premieres in April. He said to check PECHANGA.net (where I work) for the release date and gave a shout-out to Victor, who stood and waved. 

Adam introduced Wes Studi, who's an even bigger ham than he is. Wes strutted to the stage and posed like the movie star he is. He and Adam embraced and did some riffs on their old master/young apprentice relationship.  

Wes then told a “joke:” Three men are walking down a street. Two of them run into a bar while the third one ducks.  Adam and the audience puzzled over that one. 

After that they got down to the serious business of introducing the award winners. We saw a nice video showcasing Ivan Makil's career and his impact on Indian Country. After the presentation to Makil, Wes and Adam received gifts from NIGA chairman Ernie Stevens, who lauded them as leaders and role models. 

During an intermission, Tara told us that she and Adam are moving to New York so he can film Law and Order: SVU.  They'll be living outside Manhattan and commuting to the city via water taxi.  He is slated to appear in the last show of the season and then star for (at least) three seasons. 

Adam came by   and shook hands with the people at our table, including Victor and me.   He’s an old friend  of Victor's and he knows me from    my association with Vic. In case Adam had forgotten, I reminded him I'm the Indian comics guy. 

Finally, Adam returned to the stage and introduced the evening's big act: Smokey Robinson. Smokey looked well-preserved and sang with his usual silky voice, though the sound wasn't great. After a few songs he thanked Indian Country for opening casinos and providing so many places for entertainers like him to work.