Let me first say this. I’ve never been to Wisconsin, any American Indian/Native American reservation, or casino. However, if a casino that was owned by American Indians/Native Americans was near me, I’d probably check it out, because casinos have really good people watching, and that’s fun. I really don’t have any opinions on Native Americans/American Indians, due to a lack of info.
Ok. Here’s the skinny.
I’m talking to this person from Shawano, Wisconsin; who seems rather level-headed most of the time, and she starts going off on how a White Person ™ can’t go into the reservation, as they are likely to get killed/beat up just for being there, and how it’s fairly lawless, with lots of drugs, etc, and the cops in the reservation won’t bust their friends for anything, and how even if a person gets caught doing something (the example was a gang rape/murder) they won’t get convicted, etc. There was also some stuff about people being on welfare, but somehow having lots of expensive clothes, cars, etc… because they get money from the casino, even though they don’t work there.
I don’t know diddly about this area, or about Native Americans/American Indians (I heard they aren’t from India though) and can’t find out much about it on the web, other than the casino/bingo place, and some cool looking stuff about a sturgeon feast (It sounds tasty). Can someone fill me in on the Straight Dope? All of the stuff above, some of which sounds quite nasty and such, is not my opinion, it’s just stuff I heard, so please don’t throw any rocks at me.
Some tribes pay what amounts to dividends to their members from casino proceeds. And some don’t, the revenue goes to the tribal government for be spent on the tribe’s behalf.
I spent a few days at the Ojibwe reservation near Hayward, WI, several years ago. I have to say that lots of white folks around the reservation really don’t like the tribe. Tribal members have certain rights (including special hunting and fishing privileges, which are a big deal in WI) which the whites don’t. The tribe does have it’s own police force, though I never saw them in action. I don’t know what the tribal status is re federal income tax on members, but I can for sure say nobody was driving around in fancy cars and clothes that I saw.
The is a way up north in Wisconsin, and there isn’t much in the way of an economy up there. And a lot of what there is is controlled by the tribe. To hazard a guess, I’d say that 95% of what this woman told you is bullshit generated by jealousy, and the last five percent are economic factors that foster the jealousy.
I think this question needs to go into the IMHO forum for a thorough discussion of your OP.
Thank you Boyo- I appreciate your knowledge. I figured that there was a hefty helpin’ o’ horseshit, but I dunno much about that stuff. If anyone else has any info, pleeeze sling it my way.
I don’t know about the reservation in WI, but I think your friend is relatively full of it, too. I live near the Tuscarora reservation in Niagara County, and, while I don’t have much occasion to go there, I know a number of “White People ™” who do, without much trouble.
Now, the Seneca Nation, of which the Tusacroras are part, have recently opened a casino in Niagara Falls. Last week, their annual profits were estimated at $210 million–not an insignificant chunk of change. However, not all of that profit is going back to the Senecas. $27 million is going to New York State, $9 million to the city of Niagara Falls, and at least $120 million is being plowed into a new “luxury hotel.” A large but unknown amount is going to pay the overtime incurred by the contractors in building the casino. And, of course, the (Seneca) owners of the casino are going to take their share of the profits. The bottom line is, not a lot is going to be left for the Seneca Nation as a whole. So, while that “$210 million” figure makes it sound as if the Seneca Nation is getting rich, it’s probably not the case.
As Boyo Jim said, you don’t see a lot of fancy cars on the reservation. Nor do you see a lot of employers, sadly. The Seneca Nation actually does need the gambling profits, but I doubt that the money will help those in most need.
Ohhh, sorry.:o Internet Infidels is another discussion board. If you’re not familiar with it, feel free to email me for a link. I’d put it here, but I’m not sure if that would be ok.
