This assignment deals with the recent surge in Native American gaming and casinos. The issues surrounding this phenomena highlight the ongoing process of culture contact in modern day America and can lend insight into relations between Native Americans, tribal governments and state and federal authorities. Four articles available online provide distinct veiwpoints into gambling and Native Americans. The first is a newspaper article from the Hartford (Conn.) Courant about the ressurgance of Native Americans in general and the Pequot tribe in particular. Next is an interview with Anthony Pico, the chairman of the Viejas (Calif.) tribe, taken from a Frontline special on gambling. Providing information contrary to the success some tribes have had setting up gaming is an article about failing casinos in Washington. Finally, anthropologists have played a role in this debate. The final article is from an anthropologist's essay about the ties between modern day casinos and traditions of gaming.
Read these 4 articles and answer the following questions in 3 to 5 sentences each.
1. Would, and how could, the Pequot tribe have survived without gambling and their very successful casino?
2. Is there a down side to the Pequot's success, what could it be and why?
3. How do the statements from Tribal leader Pico differ from those that could be made by a non-Indian government official or head of a major company?
4. What do you think of the connections that have been made between traditional games and gambling and modern tribal casinos? Are there differences that should set Native Americans apart from other groups not allowed to run gaming and casinos, is this even an issue?
5. What impacts do the failure of casinos have upon Native American groups?
6. What role does the state play in failing casinos in Washington and what role do you think state and federal governments should have?
comments to Wilson or Lovata
Created 8/21/98, modified by SMW 11/19/98