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Regular Session, 2013
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 174
BY REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON
A RESOLUTION1
To commend Earl Barbry, Sr., Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana Chairman, upon receipt of2
a Lifetime Achievement Award from the United South and Eastern Tribes,3
Incorporated.4
WHEREAS, United South and Eastern Tribes, Incorporated (USET) recently created5
an honor, to be awarded annually, for lifetime achievement and service to the organization6
and Indian Country; and7
WHEREAS, USET's goal is to recognize not only outstanding achievements within8
a tribe, but to honor leadership and advocacy to fellow Indian nations and to promote and9
protect sovereignty and lift the bitter yoke of poverty; and10
WHEREAS, the inaugural USET Lifetime Achievement Award was recently given11
to Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana Chairman Earl Barbry, Sr; and12
WHEREAS, as the first recipient, USET has also named the honor the Earl Barbry,13
Sr. Lifetime Achievement Award; and14
WHEREAS, Chairman Barbry was raised on the Tunica-Biloxi Reservation in15
Marksville, where he was elected Tribal Chairman in 1978 and appointed Tribal16
Administrator that same year, capacities in which he continues to serve; and17
WHEREAS, Chairman Barbry has overseen the construction of major housing18
developments, paved roads, a tribal center, a court complex, a welfare office, a hotel-casino19
recreation complex and a new multimillion dollar cultural and education center on the20
Reservation; and21
WHEREAS, under his leadership, the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe received federal22
recognition in September of 1981 and repatriated artifacts looted from its eighteenth century23
cemetery near St. Francisville; and24 ENROLLEDHR NO. 174
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WHEREAS, Chairman Barbry was named the recipient of the Avoyellean of the1
Year Award in 1993 by the Avoyelles Journal, the highest award given in the parish; and2
WHEREAS, in 1996, Chairman Barbry was named the Minority Businessman of the3
Year by the Marksville Chamber of Commerce and subsequently received the 20054
Leadership Award of the National Indian Gaming Association; and5
WHEREAS, in 2006, Chairman Barbry was named a Louisiana Legend by Louisiana6
Public Broadcasting in recognition of his cultural, educational, and economic contributions7
to the region and the state; he was the first American Indian to receive this honor; and8
WHEREAS, in December 2011, Chairman Barbry was awarded an honorary9
doctorate of humane letters by Northwestern State University; and10
WHEREAS, Chairman Barbry serves in a leadership capacity in the Louisiana Inter-11
Tribal Council, an organization that serves federal- and state-recognized Indian12
communities; and13
WHEREAS, Chairman Barbry is a nationally known American Indian leader, serving14
on the board of the United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc., representing federally15
acknowledged tribes from Louisiana to Maine; and16
WHEREAS, USET President commended Chairman Barbry for his "leadership",17
"years of service", and "honor to his sacred duties".18
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the19
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Earl Barbry, Sr., Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of20
Louisiana chairman, upon his receipt of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the United21
South and Eastern Tribes, Incorporated.22
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted23
to Earl Barbry, Sr.24
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES