Indians ring the bell on Wall Street

Tribal Leaders Make History, Ring In the “Indian Country On Wall Street Era” The leaders and finance officers of five Tribal Nations made history recently when they became the first Native Americans to preside over the ringing of the opening bell at a global financial exchange. Maurice “Moe” John, President of the Seneca Nation of Indians, Richard Bowers Jr., Vice-Chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida and President of the Seminole Board of Directors, and Deron Marquez, former Chairman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, sounded the start of trading at the New York Mercantile Exchange, accompanied by cheers and applause from traders on the floor and over 100 Tribal Council members and finance professionals packing the audience for the occasion.

The bell-ringing was the highlight of the final day of the Native American Finance Officers Association’s (NAFOA) 25th Annual Conference--“The Wall Street Summit,” an event that brought together many of the most respected leaders and experts in the field of Tribal finance and enterprise. For the representatives of some of the most successful Tribes who took part in the Mercantile ceremony, ringing the bell in capital of the financial world was a thrill, and represented a milestone event for all Tribal Nations.