Open Writing

If you’re not living in America, you might well believe that the Native Americans died out after the Indian Wars that were waged, on and off from 1680 to 1898. First the Spanish, then the French, and later the English, then finally the American government forces all tried to put an end to these indigenous people.

Some tribes, like the Calusa, yielded to the assaults, and to imported diseases for which they had no immunity, but in fact there still are around 2.5 million Native American Indians in the US. Their fortunes since they were dispossessed of their lands and lifestyle have varied almost as much as their tribal characteristics.

Those who have stayed on the reservations have generally done less well than their assimilated brothers. The reservation locations were selected by the government because the land was remote and thought to be worthless.

The remoteness has often resulted in poor medical care and less than adequate educational and job opportunities. The so called “worthless land,” with the passage of time, has sometimes turned out to be quite the opposite, as the demand for valuable minerals such as uranium increased. Even so, the tribes on those lands did not always handle the new-found wealth to their best advantage.

It took a quirky turn of fate to bring about a massive change of fortune to many Indians. Russell and Helen Bryan, a married Chippewa couple living on Indian lands in Minnesota, received an unprecedented property tax bill from Itasca County. They refused to pay it, and the resulting legal battle went all the way up to the United States Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court, in a sweeping and unanimous decision authored by Justice Brennan, held not only that states have no authority to tax Indians on Indian reservations, but that also they have no right to regulate Indian activities on Indian reservations. This ruling opened the way to gaming on Indian lands in States where it was otherwise unlawful, and presented a potential source of income beyond most Indian’s expectations.

Casinos, jai alai, and racetracks on reservations generated close to $18.5 billion in 2002, the lion’s share on the east and west coasts, with 65% of revenues being generated by 12% of the establishments. This is explained by the fact that the 12% are located close to metropolitan areas. Casinos in less populated areas do not do as well. In the opinion of those tribes who have garnered less revenue, this is offset by the bonus of increased employment, often a difficult thing to achieve in remote areas.

As of 2008, there are 562 federally recognized tribes in the United States, many of which have chosen not to become involved in the business of gambling. There are some 400 Indian gaming establishments operated by approximately 220 federally-recognized tribes.

These establishments are often a far cry from the seedy, glittery undertakings one might imagine. The Foxwoods Resort Casino is the second largest casino in the world. Located in
Ledyard, Connecticut, it is operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, and is more profitable than any one casino in Las Vegas or Atlantic City. It has 7,200 slot machines and 380 table games, occupying 314,000 square ft. (29,200 square m).
The Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino, with which I am personally familiar, is also located in Connecticut. It has been in operation since 1996 and is operated by the Mohegan tribe and a South African casino conglomerate. This enterprise is 150,000 square ft. (14,000 square m) and consists of 3,000 slot machines and 180 table games.

It is set in beautiful, wooded hills on 240 acres, along the banks of the Thames River. It incorporates the 12,000-seat capacity Mohegan Sun Arena, a 350 seat Cabaret Theatre, and 100,000 square ft. (9,300 square m) of meeting and function room space, including the US Northeast’s largest ballroom.
If gambling’s not your thing, or alternatively, if your winnings are burning a hole in your pocket, there is130,000 square ft. (12,000 square m) of retail shopping; housing, as you might expect, many of the top, luxury stores. The architecture is quite striking, with due deference to Indian motifs, spatial influence and materials. Dominating one retail area is an enormous chandelier by the world renowned glass sculptor Dale Chehuly.

The transition from a reservation life of isolation and abject poverty to one of commercial success and a significant contribution to the tax base in States where the casinos are located has not been easy. The legality of reservation gambling has been challenged every step along the way.
Not least of the legal battles has been about what constitutes a tribe. In some cases the surviving members have totaled not much more than a hundred, many of whom were scattered and integrated into American suburban life. They had not laid claims to their tribal lands for generations, so it took litigation to restore their rights.

By and large it’s a happy ending to a painful history, and unlike other centers of gambling such as Atlantic City and Las Vegas, the profits actually do benefit their locales and the tribes.

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