Bowker
Biography:
David Matheson
David Matheson was born on the Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation
in 1951 at the home of his grandparents, Nick and Margaret
Campbell. Since his birth, Matheson has been a member of the
Schee-tsu-umsh people, now called the Coeur d’Alene Tribe.
His native language is the Salish dialect, which is unique
to this tribe, but shares common elements with the languages
of other northern plateau tribes including the Spokane, the
Flathead, the Okanogan, and the Kalispel.
Matheson
has spent a lifetime learning and living the teachings of
the Coeur d’Alene. Hunting, root digging, berry picking, and
camping are a major part of his and his wife’s regular routine,
as are observing the Tribe’s traditions and ceremonial dances
and events. He has worked and lived most of his adult life
on the reservation, where he has served as a Council leader,
the Tribal Chairman, and manager of various tribal operations.
David
Matheson is a man who walks adroitly in Indian and Anglo worlds.
He has accomplished this by integrating traditional tribal
teachings and practices into his successful business career.
He is currently the CEO of the Coeur d’Alene Casino &
Resort Hotel in Worley, Idaho, which was voted the #1 casino
in the Spokesman Reader Review for three consecutive years.
Matheson
holds an M.A. in Business Administration from the University
of Washington. Over the past twenty years, Matheson has held
many esteemed positions and has received many honors for his
work in preserving cultural traditions, the native language,
and ceremonial practices. He has served as the Deputy Commissioner
for Indian Affairs for the U.S. Department of the Interior;
the CEO for Coeur d’Alene Development Enterprises; an advisor
for the President’s Commission on Reservation Economies; a
delegate to the People’s Republic of China’s Native American
Trade Mission; and a recipient of Commendation from the Secretary
of the Interior for Outstanding Service.
In
his spare time, Matheson enjoys training and riding horses,
competing in cutting and reining, as well as participating
in Native American traditional dances and pow wows. He resides
in Northern Idaho with his wife, Jenny. They have six full-grown
children.
Email: info@DavidMatheson.com
Web: www.davidmatheson.com
Address: David Matheson
PO Box 308
Worley, ID 83876 USA
Phone: (509) 291-6873
