This Power Point was presented on October 16 for the AIS 230 class at University of Washington. Coming off a great group of student Ignite presentations about how tribes communicate about culture, we're now taking another look at stereotypes and moving into assigned readings from the class text, Indian Gaming: Who Wins? (Mullis & Kamper, 2000)

1. Moving from Tribal Casino Culture to Policy and Political Issues
Nancy Van Leuven, Ph.D.
University of Washington, American Indian Studies 230
October 16, 2013

8. Since Congress’ law in 1988 for tribal casinos:
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
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180 unrecognized tribes
Loose-knit groups of people with Indian
ancestry
And others petitioned to be American Indian
nations.
Including Mr. Roberts who formed the Western Mohegan Tribe and Nation, and
“Chief Bear Who Walks Softly” (Mr. Fry) of the Sovereign Cherokee Nation Tejas
(created by an act of God)

9. Some things that don’t really matter about the name:
•
•
•
•
•
Liberal whining
Sticks and stones
Racism
Hurt feelings
Money and greed
Then why’s the name such a big freaking deal?

10. Most people simply don’t know or
encounter many, if any Indians.
1.
“When’s the last time you saw TWO Indians?” –Chris Rock
2. So, many get their idea from media, such as:

11. DON’T ALL INDIANS LOOK LIKE 19TH CENTURY PLAINS WARRIORS?
Everyone who doesn’t look
that way, isn’t an NDN.

12. WE
UNDERSTAND
That you don’t
intend the name
to be offensive.
That you don’t
mean any harm.
That you may
even think you are
honoring us.
BUT REALIZE THE REAL DAMAGE.

Simple-minded warriorsavages

We cannot define ourselves

Contribute to the notion that
we have vanished…
FUN FACT: Some Maryland lawmakers attempted to block
state recognition of the Piscataway tribe on the basis that
some “don’t look like” Indians. Unrecognized Indians are not
considered Indian in the eyes of the law. Weird, eh?

13. TODAY
From Washington
Post:
Will Redskins be
forced to change
name within 5 years?
From Indian Country
Today, largest AI
publication:
•
•
81% of respondents find
“redskin” disparaging;
75% believe imagery
violates antidiscrimination laws.
Oneida Nation (and others)
vs.
Dan Snyder (and 85% of fans)

15. Final thoughts: What have we learned?

16. Remembering our five research areas
From the Sycuan Institute On Tribal Gaming research center at SDSU:
•
Tribal Culture – DRAFTED THIS WEEK, polish for final paper due Wednesday, Dec. 4.
• Policy and Political Issues: State/federal intervention, caps, issues of
sovereignty, guidelines regarding use of revenues, mandates about
gambling, etc.
• Regulatory, legal issues: Licensing, compacts, rights of tribes against
states (and vice versa) taxation, accounting, etc.
•
Economic Development and Economic Factors in Surrounding Community
(“The common thread in economic growth for Indian tribes is their successful assertion of their rights to govern
themselves.”)

17. From today’s assigned readings
Historically since WWII:
• Political, economic, cultural incorporation built sovereignty;
• 1970’s saw turn from Termination toward self-determination;
• IGRA changed the political landscape of tribal-state relations:
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FL and CA offered bingo with larger prizes than allowed by state law
Every tribe has a legal story: Oneida Tribe v. State of Wisconsin ; Seminole Tribe
v. Butterworth; WA Puyallup tribe in U.S. v. Farris; Barona Group v. Duff in CA;
etc.

18. SOVEREIGNTY:
Legal rationale for tribal casinos
Shifts historical concepts of:
▪ Autonomy
▪ Nationality
▪ Self-determination
Fuels controversy re:
▪ Cultural representation
▪ Profit distribution
▪ Treaty-based sovereignty

19. From today’s assigned readings: Ideas to include in your papers
• Depresses local economies, accelerates assimilation, debates on “progress” and
“goals”
• Contrast Pequots (revitalization via profits) vs. Iroquois (voted down gaming)
• Investigate: Internal divisions at odds due to U.S. systems of domination
Per-Capita and program distributions
How do laws affect “previously highly stressed social systems that managed to
survive centuries of genocide, cultural domination,
and coercive assimilation” (Fenelon)

20. Policy and Political Issues:
State intervention
Federal intervention
Issues of sovereignty
Guidelines regarding use of revenues
Mandates about gambling
Regulatory, legal issues:
Licensing
Compacts
Rights of tribes against states (and vice versa)
Taxation and accounting (including per capita payments)