Native Americans can't always cash in on casinos (community)

Tribal casinos improve political strength and quality of life for some Native people, but most still live in crushing poverty
Barbara Wells, guardian.co.uk,
Monday 9 August 2010 15.00 BST

 

Contrary to what many Americans believe, most Native people are living in desperate conditions. Despite being given "consent" to operate casinos on their own sovereign lands, the vast majority of tribes live in a poverty that many Americans would never dream existed in their own back yards. High-stakes gambling is only allowed in specific and rather infamous locations such as Las Vegas and Atlantic City where wealth is ubiquitous so, naturally, many think tribes are rich because they've been given "permission" to operate casinos. Yes? Well, no.

 

True, tribes can open gaming facilities – pursuant to congressional oversight granted in the Indian gaming regulatory act (IGRA). The act was passed in 1988 as a response to a supreme court ruling on a suit brought by the state of California, which was asserting jurisdiction over tribal gaming on reservations within its boundaries because of its Public Law-280 status, a federal statute passed in 1953, which transferred civil and criminal jurisdiction to five mandatory states. PL-280 was a repudiation of the federal government's historic "special relationship" with the tribes.

 

Initially, this relationship had fairly distinct boundaries in the immediate wake of the first Indian cases brought before the supreme court. These cases were an attempt by chief justice John Marshall to affirm the tribes' status as sovereigns. After all, the "discoverers" signed treaties with the "discovered," and the Native tribes were mentioned in the constitution: the federal government reserved the right "to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes".

 

Marshall was merely stating the obvious: the tribes had a government-to-government relationship with the US. However, that sovereignty had strict limitations: tribes were quasi-sovereigns, in the sense that they were in a state of pupilage. Their relation to the US resembles that of a ward to his guardian.

 

These first Indian cases were decided at a time when the union was nascent. Newly admitted states, Georgia in particular, were becoming increasingly hostile to tribal presence while mounting European immigration fuelled a torrential land grab, with "savage" Indians occupying precious, coveted space.

 

Aware of the growing recalcitrance in states such as Georgia, Justice Marshall made a declaration that was meant to forever halt state encroachment on Indian reservations: "The Cherokee Nation, then, is a distinct community, occupying its own territory, with boundaries accurately described, in which the laws of Georgia can have no force." Encompassed in that authority was a responsibility to protect the Indians' right to simply "be".

 

Thus the trust responsibility was born, best described as one in which the federal government is charged with acting as trustee for the tribes. It forms the bedrock of American Indian law and policy, and is a responsibility owed in exchange for all that was given: land. The US government promised to provide for the health and welfare of the tribes, in exchange for what it needed to become a nation. But broken promises, one after another, have been the nature of US federal government-tribal relations.

 

Since the IGRA, tribal gaming on some reservations has flourished where tribes have been lucky enough to be located near densely populated areas. Although the agreement gave the tribes an allowance to operate casinos, it also created guidelines as to how some of the income must be spent. In a sense, it was both an affirmation of tribal sovereignty and an erosion of it.

 

Indian casinos have been crucial to improving the quality of life for some tribes, supplying not only employment for tribal members and non-Indians, but the seed money for other tribal business ventures. Additionally, tribes with successful gaming ventures now have increased political strength and less hostile relationships with their surrounding non-Indian communities.

 

In the state of Washington, where I reside, one tribe provides an excellent example of the opportunities casinos can create. The Muckleshoot tribe opened its casino in 1995; it provides employment for both tribal members but also non-Indians from the surrounding communities (roughly 70%). With casino revenue providing seed money, the tribe now either owns or has invested in businesses wholly unrelated to gaming. It also has a beautiful medical facility that provides medical and dental care for all Muckleshoots and their family members. Additionally, the tribe has a policy of building homes for its elders.

 

In a sense, it has become self-sufficient enough to provide for its own health and welfare. It has gone beyond looking out for its own as well. Last year, it gave over $4m (£2.5m) to more than 200 Washington state schools, churches and charities through the Muckleshoot Charity Fund. Its dedication to the future of its members and its perseverance in the face of the most daunting of challenges deserves nothing but the utmost respect.

 

The Muckleshoot Tribe is a success story. But, it is the exception – many tribes still lack access to even the most basic of human necessities. Some haven't the infrastructure to provide running water, let alone business opportunities. The federal government continues to breach its trust responsibility, evidenced by staggering statistics: Native Americans have the highest rates of poverty, unemployment and disease of any ethnic group in America. Upwards of 70,000 Navajos have no running water. Many must travel several miles to wells and are forced to haul water back to their homes for family and livestock, while neighbouring non-Indian communities spring up in the desert like oases, so proud are they of their green lawns and swimming pools.

 

Most Americans are labouring under the mistaken notion that Indian tribes are wealthy because they've been "given" a special privilege to operate casinos. The truth is far different – only a small minority of tribes have truly successful reservation economies. Since the advent of tribal gaming, conditions on most reservations have remained the same. The small number of tribes reaping the benefits of gaming overshadow the majority of tribes that can't, and don't.

Shawn D. Dorris, Lead Associate Tribal TANF Program Analyst
California Department of Social Services
Tribal TANF Unit
(916) 653-8395
(916) 654-1401 FAX

Thanks (musings)

Give Thanks
 

When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light, for your life and strength.

Give thanks for your food and the joy of living.

If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies in yourself.

~Tecumseh~

Teach for Native America (education)

Native Education Leader and Obama Appointee Tapped to Head Teach For America’s Efforts to Expand Educational Opportunity for Native Students

NEW YORK CITY, August 23, 2010—Teach For America announced today that Robert Cook has been appointed to lead its efforts to expand educational opportunity for Native students as managing director of the organization’s Native Achievement Initiative. In this role, Cook will oversee strategies to grow Teach For America’s impact in school districts serving Native students and to build partnerships with Native organizations and other key stakeholders to improve education across Native communities.

Teach For America launched the Native Achievement Initiative in 2009 to help address the educational disparities that affect Native students. Through this initiative, Teach For America seeks to strengthen efforts to recruit talented teachers for school systems that lack sufficient human capital and increase the number of Teach For America alumni with knowledge of Native issues to lead long-term education reform. As part of the Native Achievement Initiative, Teach For America plans to significantly expand its presence in regions with Native student populations, bringing in additional numbers of talented new teachers.

“Robert is an exceptional leader with a passion to ensure that all Native students receive the high-quality education they deserve,” Kevin Huffman, executive vice president of public affairs at Teach For America. “As we grow our partnerships across Native communities, Robert’s invaluable experience as a Native education leader will be a critical addition to our efforts.”

Cook has served for 20 years as a teacher and administrator in American Indian education. Most recently, he was principal of Pine Ridge High School on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

In May, Cook was appointed by President Obama to serve on the National Advisory Council on Indian Education, where he will advise Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on federal efforts to improve education for Native children and adults. Additionally, Cook has served as president and board member of the National Indian Education Association (2006-09) and board member of the South Dakota Education Association and South Dakota Indian Education Association.

Cook is the recipient of awards including Teacher of the Year in Little Wound and Lower Brule; South Dakota’s 2005 Milken National Educator; Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation American Indian 2006 Teacher of the Year; and the National Indian Education Association 2006 Teacher of the Year. Additionally, Cook has been named one of Black Hills State University’s 125 Most Accomplished Alumni.

An enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe (Oglala Lakota), Cook received a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Black Hills State University and a master’s degree in education administration from Oglala Lakota College. He is married to Daphne Richards-Cook, and they have two sons who attend public school in Rapid City, S.D.


About Teach For America

Teach For America is the national corps of outstanding recent college graduates who commit to teach for two years in urban and rural public schools and become lifelong leaders in expanding educational opportunity. This fall, more than 8,200 corps members will be teaching in 39 regions across the country, while more than 20,000 Teach For America alumni continue working from inside and outside the field of education for the fundamental changes necessary to ensure educational excel

Dance (musings)

Dance to Heal the Earth

Whenever you dance, wherever you dance, dance to heal the earth! 

Dancing is power. Dancing is prayer. Some say that all is dance. Maybe. Now there's a big dance coming, a dance to heal the earth. If you're reading this, you're probably part of it. You take part whenever you do whatever you do to help heal the earth. When you recycle. When you choose to show love, to fight for justice, to bring healing, to bring out what is good in others. When you avoid cruelty and dishonesty and waste. When you are outraged. When you speak out. When you give. When you consider the generations to come. When you protest to the oppressors and encourage those who feel the cutting edge of injustice. And, of course, when you dance. There is a tree that all the prophets see, and whenever you let your love show, you make the flowers grow. 

Soon this dance will be done in a big way, in the old way, on sacred ground. All living things will take part. If you want to, you can take part. No one is twisting your arm. You can stop any time you need to, and start up again whenever you're ready. If you've read this far, you probably know what I'm talking about. You've probably been doing it in one way or another for a good while. Soon will be the time to make no bones about it! Cut loose! 

Anytime you dance, anywhere, whether at a party or in church, dance to heal the earth! Let your feet beat a healing rhythm into the earth. Let your feet beat a strengthening rhythm for those who struggle the hardest. Let your feet beat a life-giving rhythm for all peoples, regardless of race or national boundary, regardless of whether we're human or whether we're the trees, the air, the fish, the birds, the buffalo, the bear, the crow. We come out of hiding, we come back from the dead, and we dance, and our dance is a prayer, and our songs and our rhythms and our breath give life. 

Is the music they're playing some mindless jingle? Never mind, as long as it's not bad music, and you can dance to the beat! Make your own words, and make the words a prayer. A prayer for the end of exploitation, a prayer for the end of lies, a prayer for healing, for justice, for life. Remember your prayer-song, feed it and let it get strong and pass it along. Dance and pray, whenever you dance, dance to heal the earth. 

Have you seen anything? Wear it out! Make it so that all can see what you see! Take a white T-shirt and mark it with your dreams. Is there anything you'd like to tell the world? Take your shirt and mark it with your song! This is the way it has been done, so you can do it too. Use any color except black (there are reasons for that that will become clearer later), and you'll probably find that a loose, pure cotton T is most comfortable for dancing in. Cos this is an actual dance, you dance hard, you sing and breathe hard and sweat. Wear it when you plan to go out dancing, to dance to heal the earth.

Some people do this dance while fasting, and dance for several days straight. But even a few minutes of dancing helps, and joins with all the other dancing going on, everywhere on Earth. Not everyone can fast these days. Besides, you never know when you're gonna dance, and you have to eat sometimes! But if you plan to dance, hold off eating till later, or just have a little. It's easier to dance if you don't have a hotdog weighing you down. 

Some people say, do not do sacred things where people are drinking and partying. But all the universe is a sacred place. It really doesn't matter what others are doing, you can make a place sacred wherever you are, with your intention and your prayers. Some people use smoke to make a place sacred; a cigarette or incense stick will do fine. You can dance to heal the earth anywhere, even a party or a bar! The earth is everywhere, so you can dance anywhere to heal her. Only one thing. Please hold off drinking or using any other intoxicants till you're done. It works better that way. 

The Lie has gone far enough. It spreads and makes everyone sick. Now is the time for this dance to begin. It, too, will spread, and it will bring healing to all. In the beginning, they say, God put a rainbow in the sky, to let us know that Spirit never forgets. Now is the time for us to put a rainbow across the earth, to let God know that we, too, remember. 

Dance to heal the earth. Not just when you're dancing, but always. Live the dance, whenever you move, in all you do, dance to heal the earth.