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The Maoist Internationalist Movement
-- MIM Notes 81, October 1993 --
GAMBLING FOR NATIONAL LIBERATION
by MA53
On Aug. 20, the seven indigenous nations in Michigan signed
a compact with Gov. John Engler, allowing First Nation
casinos to run slot machines and video games. The compact
was the result of a lawsuit the seven nations brought
against Michigan for the right to run the machines, known as
Class III games.
Engler, required by law to negotiate a compact, said that he
"contested the rights of the Indian tribes to run slot
machines and video games in casinos on reservations" and in
general opposed the expansion of Indian gambling in
Michigan.(1)
MIM supports the goal of sovereignty in economy, territory
and government for the First Nations. So while gambling is
among the most decadent and destructive of capitalist
creations--particularly if the gamblers are themselves
oppressed nationals--MIM supports the First Nations demand
to use the industry to gain sovereignty, if that is what
they choose.
Tribal casinos across the United States are a $6 billion per
year industry. The states have little direct control over
the indigenous nations' casinos and they receive no direct
tax benefits. The percentage of profits that go to the state
and to the local government are determined on an individual
case basis. In Michigan, all off-site reservation casinos
must be approved by all seven of the nations recognized by
the state.
Gambling and Detroit
Two Detroit developers recently proposed building casinos in
the city to bring in gamblers and customers for their other
businesses. But Detroit residents have on three separate
occasions voted down the idea of a casino in the city.
The developers want to donate .7 acres of land to the Sault
St. Marie nation as an off-site reservation. Detroit Mayor
Coleman Young supports the proposed gambling site. Under the
current land donation plan, Detroit residents would have no
say in the matter.(1)
This lawsuit and the negotiations over an off-site
reservation are just one stage in a process familiar to
indigenous people across the United States. Land is a
decisive issue for Amerika's internal colonies. Who is bound
to respect historic claims to land, and who controls the
land and the commerce that takes place on it today?
The City and the Res
Sault Nation members at the Bay Mills Reservation in
Northern Michigan told MIM Notes that they had already
pulled out of a similar deal in Port Huron, Mich. because
city residents were "unfriendly" to the idea.
Others said that Tribal Chairperson Bouscher, who is
handling negotiations with Michigan, has everything under
control and that he will take care of things. Some people
who have been more outspoken publicly have different
opinions.
"The membership was never consulted. Why aren't they telling
the membership everything? We want to see a sense of
accountability, we don't want them to violate our trust,"
said a Sault Nation member, at a Detroit City Council
meeting called to discuss the casinos. He called on Bouscher
to reveal the exact details to the membership.
At the meeting, Sault members stated their distrust of the
federal government; explaining that they are wary of the
government's intent, given Amerika's agenda of destroying
the sovereignty of the First Nations.
A spokesperson for Buddy Raphael, Chairperson of the Grand
Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, said that
Raphael opposes the proposed casino in Detroit. He points
out that the Mt. Pleasant band has historical rights to the
.7 acres in question and is currently seeking federal
recognition and the rights to that land could help them to
develop. The Mt. Pleasant band would not comment on their
position or the role that they had in the initial
negotiations.
Who gets the jobs?
The proposed Detroit casinos would employ an estimated 1,000
members of the Sault nation; the compact contains a
provision that 50% of the casino's employees be
"minorities." But all of the casino's employees must be
Detroit residents.(1) This is an assurance of jobs for the
city economy. But it is also a backhanded way of breaking up
the reservation in the name of helping it out economically.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs praised the proposal because
the people employed will be from the Detroit area. Nancy
Ragsdale, the Director of the South-Eastern Michigan Indians
Organization, said that the tribes have the duty to help the
nation members that are off the reservation as well as on
the reservation. She said that the proposal in Detroit will
help the nation members that have moved to the surrounding
Wayne County area.
Government restrictions
The 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act granted First Nations
the right to offer any games that are legal in the state
that houses their casinos. The proposal must now go to the
Michigan legislature and to Secretary of the Interior Bruce
Babbitt. Babbitt is under pressure from developer Donald
Trump to review the constitutionality of off-reservation
gambling sites and the 1988 Act. Trump claims that the Act
violates the 10th Amendment by giving preferential treatment
to Indians.(2)
Indigineous sovereignty hurts Amerika
Once an off-site reservation is created, it is technically
First Nation territory and no longer subject to Amerikan
jurisdiction. Said Milwaukee Deputy City Attorney Patrick
McDonnell, "you have, in effect, a jurisdictional island
that is beyond normal City regulation in the midst of your
city and what that ultimately means--who knows?"(3)
One possibility First Nation nationalists hope for is that
gaming will be a way for the First Nations to gain back some
reparations from the white nation and become self-
reliant.(4) Building this possibility gets complicated down
the road though.
One Ojibwa woman, chairperson of a school that gets its
funds from the Potowatomi bingo operation, points out that
it is the bingo aspect of the casinos that create the most
jobs, while machines are where the most money is earned.(3)
Since First Nations are mostly poor with high unemployment,
it is hard to pick between jobs and profits.
The direct profit to the nation members seems to be more
substantial if the money to the band goes directly through
jobs and not from what is left over after expenses from the
slot machines. As the situation stands, the city of Detroit
and the developers will get their share of the profits and
the jobs will go to Detroit residents. The profits that will
be invested into the Sault community will be decided by the
chairman. Seeing that Bouscher has entered into an alliance
with the developers, the investments must also be analyzed
as to who they are benefitting: the community or the First
Nation politicians with a questionable agenda.
Notes:
1. Detroit News and Free Press November 29, 1992.
2. Wall Street Journal May 4, 1993.
3. Detroit News July 25, 1993
4. See MIM Notes 77, June 1993, p. 8.
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