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Tribal business councils describe fuel, casino, energy and court reforms as leaders look for revenue to offset federal cuts
Summary
Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone leaders told the legislative committee about business efforts including rebranding convenience stores, hedging propane, casino and oil-and-gas management, and efforts to staff courts and prosecutors as tribes respond to declining federal funding.
Tribal officials told the Select Committee on Tribal Relations they are pursuing multiple revenue and self‑governance strategies — from rebranding fuel stations and hedging propane prices to restructuring casino and oil operations — in order to replace shrinking federal allocations.
Why it matters: Tribal leaders said cuts in federal funding and volatile oil and gas revenue are forcing operational changes that could affect tribal employment, services to elders and long‑term self‑governance capacity.
Arapaho council chairman Dean Aukasage told the committee the tribe is “hauling our own gas now” and plans to rebrand tribal convenience stores as 76 retail sites to offer discounted fuel to tribal members. He said the tribe had “got our propane service going. We got it hedged,” which they expect will stabilize fuel costs for members.
Both tribes described corporate reorganizations and leadership changes at tribal enterprises. “We finally got a transport…so on that route, we’re gonna be able to have a pretty good discount price on our propane,” Aukasage said, adding the tribe has a new CEO at the Wind River Casino and has sought new operators for oil and gas assets to protect future revenue.
Leaders said they are trying to avoid layoffs but have shifted programs and staff across enterprise lines to preserve services. Aukasage said moving one program under “Arapahoe First” prevented layoffs for about 22 people; he estimated more families would be affected if cuts continued.
Tribal courts, prosecutors and legal staffing also were a theme. Council members said they are re‑advertising a chief judge position, working to ensure judges and prosecutors are barred in Wyoming and that tribal court codes are modernized. “We’re trying to make sure…our judges and our prosecutor and public defender are all gonna have JDs,” Aukasage said, calling legal capacity “one of our sovereignties that we need to exercise.”
The committee did not take action; members and tribal leaders flagged the need for continued state outreach to federal agencies and urged collaboration with county and state entities for economic and legal partnerships.
