Читать книгу The Bravest Hunter - Michael Newell - Страница 6

In 2013, a single U.S. industry’s revenue surpassed almost every other industry in revenue. This industry generated more than $600 billion, provided approximately 700,000 jobs, paid billions more in wages and directly contributed more than $11 billion to local, state and federal tax coffers.

That industry? Native American gaming. Native American gaming continues to see unrivaled profits that provide direct financial support for hundreds of Native American tribes. Since the early 1990s, the majority of these tribal nations rose from abject poverty to a level of prosperity and thus allowed the rebuilding of tribal membership and cultures. This prosperity has prompted self-government, reclamation of lands initially ceded to tribes and cultivated business relationships with non-tribal industries throughout the world.

When representatives of the Seminole Tribe of Florida stood atop the Hard Rock Cafe in Manhattan’s Times Square on December 7, 2006, they served as the embodiment of unparalleled success.

At the press conference concerning the purchase, Seminole Hollywood Council Representative Max B. Osceola Jr. said to reporters, “Our ancestors sold Manhattan for trinkets. We’re going to buy Manhattan back, one burger at a time.”

On July 23, 2014, the NIGA held a two-day summit in Washington, DC, where more than 200 of the near-250 gaming tribes sent representatives to the event. Ernie Stevens, NIGA Chairman, gave testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and said that “Nationwide, Indian Gaming is a proven job creator. Indian Gaming delivered over 165,000 direct and indirect American jobs in 2013 alone. Indian Gaming has provided many Indian people their first opportunity to work at home on the reservation. Just as importantly, jobs on the reservation generated by Indian Gaming are bringing back entire families that had moved away.”

From the tiny tribal bingo halls that began the story of American Indian gaming to today’s mega Indian casino resorts, including the Chickasaw Nation’s WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma, and the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians’ Resort and Casino in California, the success of Indian Gaming is testament to the drive and success of Indian nations. No other industry in America has enjoyed such rapid expansion and generated such enormous economic growth that directly affects the lives of its members as the Indian gaming industry.

Gambling had become acceptable.

Thankfully, there are law enforcement and Indian gaming agencies installed to prevent the licensing of those with criminal backgrounds. Non-tribal agencies, part of the DOJ, act as watchdogs to keep the industry clear of criminal influence. Every gaming tribe has an independent Tribal Gaming Agency headed by an appointed Commissioner (usually a prominent tribal citizen). These agencies focus on enforcing gaming regulations and vetting everyone associated with the gaming operation, including contractors and employees. During Indian gaming’s infancy, Ross Swimmer, a former Cherokee chief and now Special Trustee for American Indians attached to the Department of the Interior, began working with representatives sponsored by Gordon Graves to carefully craft tribal agreements with consistent language and terms. He also vetted Graves and other key persons during the process.