Let’s see if I understand this. If I belong to a certain race, I can legally start and run a casino, but if I belong to another race, I can’t.
And what’s different from this and past laws based on race?
Nope. The logic goes “If you are a member of a certain semi-autonomous nation of indigines, you can start a casino.” Race has nothing to do with it.
So how does one become a member of a semi-automomous nation of indigines? Any way other than birth? Could anyone join?
Some tribes have rituals and procedures for allowing outsiders to become part of the tribe. Others don’t. But there is absolutely zero incentive for them to allow anybody other than their family groups to get a share of the filthy lucre.
When the Mashantucket’s in Connecticut were seeking a casino, everyone and their brother wanted to find out their geneology, because all they needed to prove, was that they were 1/32nd Mashantucket and they were in. The tribe itself is only about 600 strong if that…but I’ll tell you this. Having lived in he desert southwest for several years, there are a lot of other tribes that exhault the Mashantuckets for that they have been able to do. And if you have never been to Foxwoods, it’s worth it even if you don’t gamble…it’s a sight to see!
Phlospr, have you heard of the book Without Reservation by Jeff Benedict? Check it out its a fascinating read. The Mashantucket Pequots as presently constructed are almost completely a fake tribe. Their members are the descendants of some poor whites who were squatting on the Peqot reservation after the real Pequots had all but died out. There are some real indians in the tribe but they are probably Narragansett, the reason they got in is because the guy who reinvented the tribe needed more members to bolster his case for recogntion and their grandparents had known each other.
The modern Pequots got regognized through slick lawyering and by exploting the general feeling of sympathy toward native Americans that existed in the 70’s. When they received recognition from the federal government they were able to claim way more land than had been part of the original reservation due to shady actions. There is a HUGE amount of resentment toward the Peqots in the town of Ledyard, both for the way they claimed alot of land and the conduct of current tribe members.
One of my girlfriend’s best friends teaches in Ledyard and things are very testy. Alot of the newer tribe members are cultural African-American more than anything and have brought alot of typically inner city problems to a formerly pastorl town. Further, I’ve heard that alot of the entitlement programs you have spoke of aren’t fiscally responsible and that the tribe has had to keep borrowing.
It’s not that if you’re an indian you’re allowed to open a casino.
It’s more that there are no federal laws against operating a casino, gambling laws are almost entirely handled on the state level. Which is how Nevada works. They noticed that all states made gambling illegal, but if Nevada legalized gambling they could attract gamblers from out of state (that is, from California), and make tons of money. And so it was written, and so it was done.
Now after the success of Nevada, some people noticed something interesting. Indian Reservations have an interesting legal status. In many cases these reservations are within the borders of a particular state, but are not subject to the laws of that state. They are subject to Federal law, but not state law. Reservations have their own courts, their own police forces, their own laws. And the reservations were set up by the Federal Government, they cannot be dismantled by the states, only by treaty.
Of course, when these were set up the reservation system was intended to be a screw-job. You guys get this tiny parcel of worthless land, and because we don’t give two shits about whether some indian knifes another indian, what happens inside the reservation is of no concern to white folks. And the alternative was continued war against the United States army, so one by one the Indian tribes either signed peace treaties with the US government or got wiped out.
So, since laws against gambling are state laws, and state laws don’t usually apply inside reservations, reservations have for a long time done things like run fireworks stands or tobacco shops selling fireworks that were illegal under state law, and tobacco that wasn’t taxed under state law. Of course, transporting these untaxed tobacco and illegal fireworks back into your state would be illegal, but that was up to the state police to enforce. And then someone noticed that you could build a casino too.
So casinos began to be built on indian reservations. And these casinos have various legal setups. Some are owned by outside groups that just lease the land from the tribe. Others are joint operations. Others are owned by the tribes. And the profits from the casinos, whether that profit is simply rent or from the actual casino operation goes to the tribal government. And the tribal government is answerable to the tribal membership, and tribal membership is usually decided by the tribe itself. So you’re a member of the tribe if the tribe says you’re a member of the tribe. Adoptions and mixed races aren’t usually considered a problem, what matters is tribal affiliation. But if casino profits are distributed as dividends to every member of the tribe, membership in the tribe is now very valuable.
I’ve got the book and I’ve met the man. When Benedict first came out with the book, I went with my wife to the Garde Arts Center in New London and heard him speak about it. Not very impressed with the man, but quite impressed with the research he did. I’m fully aware most of the Mashantuckets are of African descent, and I also know that there is a terrible problem facing many “tribal” teens and young adults since the casino went in. Horrible drug addiction, crime etc…etc…
Though I am a staunch supporter of Native American rights and I believe they were horribly wronged when placed on reservations, I do think the Mashantuckets have done a little good in the native community. With the amount of money they have spent on other tribes, the beautiful museum they have constructed and the recognition they are bringin back to some of the coastal tribes…this is recognition that has been lost a lot longer than many of the western tribes.
It’s a tough coin to toss…
I think I’m not understanding something here. It seems like you’re saying the kids are allocated $30,000 per month, then they get all the money when they turn 18? Does this start from birth? If so, an average 18 year old gets a lump sum of $6,480,000 when they turn 18, not counting interest. Yowza.
Do have any more info on this?
Thats interesting, I hadn’t heard much of the positive stuff. My friend who teaches in Ledyard is in special ed. and has alot of Pequot kids. She said it was really sad because they had all this money but no real idea how to responsibly spend it. She visited one huge home that didn’t have any furniture in it excepts mattresses on the floor but had 10 brand new ATV’s in the garage.
Not to mention the fact that Indian casinos don’t have a smiley tax like most places! 
:eek: 
There is a twinge of irony in Native Americans running and profiting off casinos, is there not?
Another win for capitalism and another little case study of how capitalist cultural values will displace most others.
Tatanka-Iyotanka is no match for Milton Friedman.
My best friend is a member of the Kumeyaay tribe (Santa Ysabel Indian Reservation). They just opened their casino a month or so ago. From what she’s told me, each tribe’s casino doles out a percentage of the profits to registered tribe members over 18.
The bigger and more successful the casino, the more each tribe member gets. Members of the Sycuan tribe get huge monthly checks. The tribes that don’t have casinos are given a small cut from a pool of money created by contributions from all of the tribal casinos.
Yes, google mashantuckets receive stipends and you will see what has been going on. It’s not 30k anymore…it’s 28k…and I do not know hwo the order goes for children who are born into a mashantucket family.
Exactly, they all have huge homes on Long Pond, or somewhere else on the rez and they have no clue what to do with all the money. [stereo-typical hat on] Like a group of trailer trash groupies who win the lotto, they’ll spend every last buck on nice things and think nothing of the future or doing the right thing… [/stereo-typical hat off]
There are tribal members who are not so gregarious and do a semi-good job at managing their lives with all that money. They are the tribals who are the movers and the shakers. But there are plenty of them who just want to sit back collect a check and foster an addiction.