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12222 New York Ranch Road
Jackson, CA 95642
Toll-Free 800-822-WINN
Phone 209-223-1677
Fax 209-223-9444
Call (800) 822-WINN (9466), ext. 3, or (209) 223-1677, ext. 3, or visit the Dreamcatcher’s Club booth for details.
Offer good through October 31, 2004 (excluding September 5). Subject to availability.
Margaret L. (Hughes) Dalton was born in Tuolumne, California to her Native American Mother, Tessie Jeff, and her non-Indian Father, Clyde Hughes. Margaret attended Calaveras High School in San Andreas.
After completing her ninth-grade year, Margaret left school and married Earl Dalton, Sr. on April 6, 1956, when she was 16 years old. Margaret and Earl moved onto the Rancheria the same year. Even at that time, their goal was to make their small Band of Miwuk Indians self-sufficient and not dependent on any state or government funding.
Margaret and Earl raised four sons, Earl Jr., Dennis, Robert, and Adam, on the Rancheria. They also raised Margaret's three brothers and one sister, Irvin (Bo), Clarence, Gary, and Donna.
They had one steadfast rule in their household - all eight children must graduate from high school. And all eight did!
In 1979, Margaret knew her tribe must form their own government to strengthen themselves in their dealings with local, state and federal governments. The tribe held a meeting and established a formal government. Margaret was elected Tribal Chairperson, a position she has held for over 20 years.
In 1980 Margaret lost her best friend, and husband. Earl Sr. was killed in a logging accident leaving Margaret to pursue their dreams on her own.
In 1984, Margaret read about the success of the Seminole Tribe in Florida opening their own Bingo Hall. Margaret began a search for private investors to help her tribe open a Bingo Hall. Even though Margaret did find investors, her tribe's Bingo Hall opened and closed three different times.
But with Margaret's incredible determination, she convinced her Tribal Government to let her try one more time.
In 1991, with honest investors backing her this time, Jackson Indian Bingo opened its doors. Today, Jackson Rancheria Casino and Hotel employs more than 1400 people, and is the largest employer in Amador County.
The Rancheria has built 14 new homes for its residents. It also has a dental clinic, a recreation center, water and sewage treatment plants, and an auto mechanic shop.
Margaret has been honored as "Woman of Distinction" by the Nationwide Register's Who's Who in Executives and Businesses and as "Business Person of the Year" (1998) by the Amador County Chamber of Commerce. She is Vice-Chairperson of the Tribal Alliance of Northern California; on the Board of Directors of Mariposa-Amador-Calaveras-Tuolumne Health Board; and on the Board of Directors of the Amador County Chamber of Commerce.
She is active in fund-raising activities for youth programs both locally and nationally. She met with President Clinton at a private luncheon to discuss Native American problems in California.
Margaret and Earl Dalton's dream was the betterment of the Native American's way of life. Their dream is, at long last, coming true.