SLS 13RS-2855 ORIGINAL
Page 1 of 2
Regular Session, 2013
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 170
BY SENATOR LAFLEUR
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana Chairman Earl Barbry
Sr. on receiving the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award from the United South and
Eastern Tribes, Incorporated.
A RESOLUTION1
To commend Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana Chairman Earl Barbry Sr. on receiving the2
inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award from the United South and Eastern Tribes,3
Incorporated.4
WHEREAS, Chairman Barbry was raised on the Tunica-Biloxi Reservation in5
Marksville, Louisiana, where he learned early on that he was part of a clan unique to the6
area: and7
WHEREAS, Chairman Barbry is descended from a long, unbroken line of Tunica-8
Biloxi chiefs and learned much from his grandfather, Elijah Barbry, who was the first9
activist chief in Louisiana to attempt to get a federal response to the needs of the Louisiana10
Indian people; and11
WHEREAS, Chairman Barbry was elected Tribal Chairman in 1978 and was12
appointed as Tribal Administrator that same year and has continued to serve in those13
capacities continuously since then; and14
WHEREAS, under the leadership of Chairman Barbry, amazing changes have taken15
place on the reservation and where once there were barren fields and wooded areas with a16
few shanties scattered about, now one may see a unique and modern housing development,17
Tribal Administrative Office, a Health Department and Social Services Office, Gaming18 SR NO. 170
SLS 13RS-2855 ORIGINAL
Page 2 of 2
Board and Gaming commission Office, Tribal Police, and Court Building; and1
WHEREAS, under Chairman Barbry's leadership, the Tunica-Biloxi repatriated2
artifacts looted from their 18
th
century cemetery near St. Francisville and court action3
initiated by Tunica-Biloxi helped build the foundation for the Native American Graves4
Protection and Repatriation Act; and5
WHEREAS, Chairman Barbry has carefully overseen the construction of major6
housing developments, paved roads, tribal center, court complex, welfare office, as well as7
a hotel-casino recreation complex and a new multi-million dollar cultural and education8
center; and9
WHEREAS, Barbry was named the recipient of the Avoyellean of the Year Award10
in 1993 by the Avoyelles Journal, the highest award given in the parish and in 1996, the11
Marksville Chamber of Commerce named him Minority Businessman of the Year; and12
WHEREAS, Chairman Barbry received the 2005 Leadership Award of the National13
Indian Gaming Association and the next year, he was named a Louisiana Legend by14
Louisiana Public Broadcasting in recognition of his cultural, educational and economic15
contributions to the region and the state, the first American Indian to ever receive this high16
honor; and17
WHEREAS, Chairman Barbry admits that all of his accomplishments would never18
have been possible without his loving wife, Gail, his two sons and his two grandchildren.19
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana20
does hereby extend its highest commendations on Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana21
Chairman Earl Barbry Sr. on receiving the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award from the22
United South and Eastern Tribes.23
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to24
Tunica-Biloxi Tribe Chairman Earl Barbry Sr.25
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Heyward Jeffers.
DIGEST
LaFleur SR No. 170
Commends Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana Chairman Earl Barbry Sr. on receiving the
inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award from the United South and Eastern Tribes.