Speaking Turtle's Cafe

A Means To An End?

First, I'd like to thank my new blog readers for their comments.

Nice to know my words weren't just going out to the winds. While one and a half of the comments had nothing to do with the post, I guess that just comes with the territory. The best comment of all related to the balance of a casino and other economic development ventures.

If you listen to the discussions around the tribe as opposed to the media version, you will find that this is what we all want. I've heard folks in the tribe express dreams of developing and operating everything from restaurants, hair salons, to e-commerce ventures, alternative fuel ventures, and various other micro-enterprises and cottage industries. My personal interest is in a black box theatre, connected to a media production company. I even have a full business plan written out for both, complete with a five-year plan. However, all of these goals and dreams require venture capital. Many of the tribal members are not in the economic circumstances to receive business loans. Hence many of these dreams and goals might remain dreams and goals.

Now, if you consider the cooperative economic development models enacted by some immigrant groups, particularly those of Asian extraction, you see the blueprints of a way to make things happen. For example, I remember in Boston, ten families pooled their resources to obtain a place to live and eventually purchase a store front or eatery. When that business produced, the profits went toward obtaining more living quarters and starting more businesses, until all ten families had their piece of the pie. Of course, this model pre-dates the latter day Asian immigrants, and can be seen in the history of the early 20^th century West Indian American communities in New York City, all the way back to the formation of the Free African Society in Philadelphia in the 1770’s by Absalom Jones.

If you follow the current trend of American business, you can see that the days of free enterprise are quickly fading in the wake of massive corporate mergers, hostile take-overs and small businesses going belly-up to franchise competition. It’s as if people form businesses these days for the express purpose of having them taken over by somebody bigger. So the question remains, how does a group raise capital in today’s economic system that will allow them economic self-sufficiency? Well, consider pre-Castro Cuba or your present day, independent countries of the Caribbean. The economy of these countries depends on the large-scale development and investments of corporations and conglomerates who come into these countries, build their businesses around the tourist trade and in exchange offer all kinds of opportunities for employment and well as infrastructural improvements (roads, buildings, law enforcement, etc.). The leaders of these nations are forced to make decisions that, in theory, should benefit the needs of their country... sadly, often tainted by greed and corruption, leading to revolution.

Following this same principle, a sovereign entity and it’s leadership in this territory is also forced to find a way to provide for the social and economic needs of their community. In the 1980s, gaming became the means for sovereign native nations and tribes to gain capital. What may seem to be a focus on a casino is our effort to cultivate resources and choices for very real and immediate needs. Many of our tribal members are have-nots living among the haves. A casino is not a way of life but is a boost/ jump-start with which we can offer education, occupational training, healthcare, provisions for our elders, housing, business opportunities. We can no longer give them the old way of life with the woods, clear waters, aquatic and wildlife rapidly disappearing, but we can give them a chance to succeed. As I look at the resources that have come to the Mashantucket Pequots, for example, where each member of the tribe receives an annual share in the profits totaling $150,000 - $250,000 (did I mention, each?); I could have my theatre space, and a little left over to start that pharmaceutical venture that one of my readers kindly suggested.

Now, let’s say that Governor Patrick decides against allowing a casino. We still have 553 acres in Middleboro with-which we could build a resort, convention center and/or even a theme park, with land over to address the housing issues faced by many tribal members. While not bringing in the revenue that a casino would, it still would provide an economic development base of the tribe. More to come...

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Anti-Casino:

What's Really Behind These Feelings???

I remember when I bought my first house, a tiny, cozy cottage, just right for a single artist with no family and two cats. It was dirt cheap to boot! I remember being advised by several elders, both tribal and African American, that I should not discuss my purchase with any of my white co-workers because they would resent it. I was a little mystified as almost all of my co-workers were home-owners, in many cases, large, beautiful homes and renovated estates. Why would they resent me owning a tiny cottage? The common answer: anytime a person of color gets anything, even if it's a shack, they will resent it. Also working at this job was a fraternity brother, African American, who new about my purchase. I guess not having access to the same elders, he innocently mentioned my purchase at a social function of our co-workers and sure enough, attitudes towards me changed dramatically. Thinly veiled, snide comments began to abound. The words, they don't want us to have anything, echoed in my ears.

The issue of casinos seems to be one the sparks a number of opinions from folks. Here in Massachusetts, the anti-casino movement is boisterous, if for no other reason, but to make it seem bigger and more supported then it really is. A prime example is the vote that recently took place in Middleboro, where the anti-casino voices could be heard loud and clear, they filibustered at the special town meeting for two hours and lost the vote by a landslide. What's particularly interesting is the fact that although the state itself is looking to create some state owned casinos, the focus of most of the anti-casino movement seems to be the Mashpee Wampanoag. Hmmm, why is this?

Well, let us consider an unspoken aspect of American society, good old Economic Racism. In the structured image of those who pursue the American Dream, prosperity is only reserved for those of European extraction. People of color are supposed to be poor or preferably non-existent. Indians are supposed to be defeated, drunken, poverty stricken people who are supposed to invoke sympathy or scorn from the majority. Quakers, for example, seem to love Indians when they are a 'cause,' but put an Indian in a position of social and/or economic power and now they're a problem and untrustworthy. Indians are supposed to live on barren reservations, and sit around saying poetic and esoteric things. The thought of Indians living in nice houses, sending their kids to the best schools, and driving nice cars sickens some people. For one thing, in their racist way of thinking, the notion of people of color achieving what they have failed at is more then they can take. This is exemplified by the actions of former Mashpee selectman, George Benway, in his persistent and open attacks on the Mashpee Wampanoag's tribe's bid for recognition, where several of us heard him on a number of occasions, particularly after a Mashpee Town Hall meeting in March of 2000, calling the Mashpee Wampanoags "niggers,". revealing how he feels about two ethnic groups.

The unfortunate fall of Glenn Marshall as the chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council was a major blow to the confidence of a lot of people. While this is by no means an excuse for his actions, the fact of the matter is, he did what many American politicians have done before him... it's just that many of them never got caught, or held accountable. However, what made him a real target for scorn was the fact that it was under his stewardship that federal recognition became a reality for the tribe after a 30 year struggle. How dare he give people of color an economic advantage in life! If they are real Indians, they don't need money! Why can't they just sell arts and crafts at powwow and tourist stands? By the way, these are actual comments that I've encountered in my interactions with folks.

The next time you find yourself scoffing at the notion of a casino, ask yourself: would I have this reaction if it were Donald Trump or MGM trying to open a complex in Massachusetts? We've discovered that Trump, by his own admission set up and anti-casino group to take native people out of the game that he's made so much money in, see here. I also reference the article Anti-Casino or Anti-Indian, by Michael I. Niman here  as a detailed reference on this point. When I read the quotes of many of the anti-casino activists in the paper, old terms pop up in their comments, such as "Those people" referring to native groups and tribes.

The question remains, what's at the bottom line of these feelings? Is this truly a disdain for gaming and gambling in their regions or is it a matter of possible subconscious disdain for people of color economically advancing? To date, I have not heard a single anti-casino activist offer an alternative suggestion or plan for large scale economic development among native groups. I guess it all goes back to the saying, "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem."

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