Totem Press Release
Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma first to offer Totem accounts
Partnership provides digital bank accounts to enrolled members, revenue to the tribe
Tulsa, Oklahoma — Totem Technologies, Inc. and the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma have entered into a strategic partnership to create pathways to financial inclusion for tribal members through digital banking. The entities will work together to deliver culturally relevant financial products and education, while streamlining access to the benefits provided by the tribe.
“We are always looking at ways to empower our citizens,” said Eastern Shawnee Chief, Glenna J. Wallace. “Working with Totem provides a great opportunity for us to provide best-in-class financial products to our people while simultaneously growing economic opportunities in areas that we already lead in — namely, financial services and innovation.”
The Eastern Shawnee Tribe is Totem’s first announced partner and already has an established expertise in financial technology. The tribe is a majority owner of the Peoples’ Bank of Seneca, a $364 million asset institution based in Seneca, Missouri, and recently announced that it is developing a gaming venture in the Metaverse featuring a variety of virtual goods.
Partnering with Totem will enable the tribe to offer FDIC-insured accounts with no monthly fees or balance minimum requirements to its members nationwide. Accounts are held in partnership with Oklahoma-based First Pryority Bank, Member FDIC.
In addition to a virtual and physical debit card, a network of 55,000 surcharge free ATMs, and 2-day early paycheck access (see terms and conditions here), Totem is designed to improve its customers’ financial health. It encourages incremental savings and responsible spending, and the company plans to roll out a credit-builder product later this year.
Totem is distinguished from other digital banks through its focus on building Native wealth. First, the app provides information on national and tribe-specific benefit programs to enable its users to access financial support. Second, it engages in revenue-sharing with its partner tribes. Every time a tribal member uses their Totem debit card to make a purchase, a portion of the fees generated from the transaction go back to the tribe.
“We couldn’t be happier to be working with the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma to launch Totem,” said Amber Buker, Totem’s founder and CEO. “Together with our current and future tribal partners, we’re working to create a new tradition of Native wealth-building that will help all of our people thrive for generations to come.”
Totem is set to launch in spring 2023. Individuals can sign up for the waitlist to receive monthly updates and early account access here.
About Totem Technologies, Inc.
Totem is creating pathways to financial inclusion for Native Americans through digital banking. We’re partnering with sovereign tribal governments to deliver culturally relevant financial products and education, make tribal benefits more accessible, and help the growing number of self-identifying Natives born off-rez connect to culture.
About Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma
The Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma is headquartered near Wyandotte, OK, with over 3,500 enrolled members. The tribe has a vibrant culture with a modern constitution, elected officials, and a multi-branch governmental structure. The Eastern Shawnee tribe is dedicated to excellence in its journey to build the tribe of the future.
###
For inquiries, please contact:
Amber Buker
press@mytotem.app
Justin Barrett
jbarrett@estoo.net
Notice BC Meeting has moved
Due to severe weather with flooding and frozen pipes in the Blue Jacket Building and Green Feather Building the Business Committee meeting of December 28, 2022 will be called to order and moved to Indigo Sky Casino Ball room.
LLG-PressRelease-12/01/2022
Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma and Lucky Lady Games, Inc. to
Launch Metaverse and Online Gaming Venture
WYANDOTTE, OK, December 1, 2022 – The Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma today announced a partnership with Lucky Lady Games Inc. to bring metaverse-based online gaming to northeast Oklahoma. This groundbreaking new venture seeks to bring the excitement of the Tribe’s flagship property, Indigo Sky Casino & Resort, to the metaverse for the enjoyment of a global audience.
This partnership is the latest in a string of cutting-edge developments adopted by the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, cementing their commitment to being at the vanguard of entertainment technology and maintaining their reputation as a leader in the tribal gaming industry of northeast Oklahoma.
“The Eastern Shawnee Tribe is excited about our partnership with Lucky Lady Games Inc.. We strive to be leaders in the gaming industry, and this allows us to engage with our customers in a new and exciting way,” said Justin Barrett, Treasurer of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma’s Business Committee. “We have enjoyed working with Sandra Wong from Lucky Lady Games to develop this platform. We are continuing to look at ways to diversify our business portfolio. The Tribe is a strong supporter of our surrounding communities, and this will allow us to continue to be a good partner. I want to thank everyone on the project team from LLG and Indigo Sky Casino & Resort, especially our General Manager Melanie Heskett and Marketing Director Wendi Long.”
The project is currently slated to launch in the latter half of 2023. “Our eyes are always on the horizon,” said Melanie Heskett, Indigo Sky Casino & Resort’s General Manager. “The future of gaming is bright, and we’re excited to forge new paths in partnership with Lucky Lady Games.”
Sandra Wong, CEO & Founder of Lucky Lady Games is in line with this sentiment. “The team at Lucky Lady Games is very excited to be collaborating with such a forward-thinking tribe to build something never before seen in Web3 gaming. Indigo Sky Online will feature both off & on-chain casino gaming with integrations that tie back to the land-based property. It is a very exciting time for innovation in the casino gaming space and the team at Indigo Sky Casino & Resort really know their customers and their growing needs. We are happy to be a part of their success story.”
Media contact:
Wendi Long
WendiL@indigoskycasino.com
(918) 666-9221
VETNOS Press Release
October 5, 2022
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christine Eddington
christine@eddcomm.com, (405) 517-3303
Tribal Nation Gaming Milestone: Three Tribes, Two States, and One Purpose
Bringing a First-of-its-Kind, Class II, Sports Themed App to the Market
New York, NY – The Chicken Ranch Tribe of Me-Wuk Indians of Jamestown, California, the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes and Eastern Shawnee Tribe, both of Oklahoma, have partnered with Vetnos LLC to create PlaySqor, a first of its kind Class II sports themed gaming technology.
PlaySqor’s creators, Vetnos LLC, designed the game to advance the reach of Class II while filling a need in Tribal sports gaming offerings. PlaySqor targets the casual fan betting on their favorite athletes on a fast, fun-fixed odds betting platform, strategically developed with a bingo engine.
Chicken Ranch Tribal Chairman Lloyd Mathieson sums it up: “It’s the future. We know that the best thing that you can do is diversify. And what’s a better way to diversify into an offering than around something that you already know, which is gaming. Because it’s Class II, the Tribes really have more control. The federal government is still involved, but the State involvement ceases. That’s what really drew us to this app, was the ability for Tribes to strengthen their sovereignty.”
“For us, it’s important to always be looking for ways to enhance the future of our Tribe and our communities,” said President Terri Parton, of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes. “Because it’s Class II, there is no revenue share with the State, so Tribal Nations will earn more. When Tribes earn more, that means more jobs and stronger communities.” The Wichita and Affiliated Tribes have partnered through the development of PlaySqor.
The Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma sees particular benefit for Tribal Nations like theirs. “We are not one of the larger Tribes, but we are strategic, forward-thinking and progressive. When Tribes are able to expand and manage our gaming offerings properly, we can generate more revenue for the betterment of our people and our communities,” said Treasurer Justin Barrett of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe.
“This is an exciting time for our Tribal Nation Partners and Vetnos. We set out to deliver value and opportunity to Indian Country and are committed to deepening our relationships with Tribes throughout the country. Our proprietary technology platform and patented games change the landscape for Tribal Nations looking for a lower-risk entry point into sports gaming in a purely Class II format,” said Vetnos Founder and Executive Chairman Joshua Berkowitz.
PlaySqor, a Class II app, is an easy-to-learn twist on sports themed gaming with an added layer of strategic fun. Traditional sports betting can be complicated, intimidating and aimed at a small percentage of possible players, but the PlaySqor games are easy to understand, and the entry point is low. Developed in consultation with Class II legal experts and using a Class II-experienced independent testing lab for strict compliance with Class II technical standards, PlaySqor democratizes the sports vertical, with a fixed odds approach to wagering.
Vetnos, LLC, was founded by Joshua Berkowitz, who has 30 years of Global Macro investing experience. He is currently Founder and President of Shield Street Capital, a family office focused on Global Macro and alternative investments, and CEO of PlaySqor, a sports gaming company. Previously, Berkowitz founded Woodbine Capital Advisors, a Global Macro Hedge Fund that managed $3.5B and served as the Chief Executive and Investment Officer. Vetnos owns a patented list of more than 20 fixed-odds games. The Vetnos team includes Dan Orlow, President, and Co-Founder and Valerie Spicer, Chief Gaming Officer, Class II Gaming.
###