Some of the less fortunate bands:
Posted on 01/11/2005 2:55:39 PM PST by wallcrawlr
VINELAND, Minn. -- Minnesota's most prosperous American Indian bands should join together to provide financial help to less fortunate bands, the head of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe said Tuesday.
Chief executive Melanie Benjamin, in her annual address to band members, urged tribes to revive their tradition of sharing their wealth. She envisions contributions to a foundation that would distribute grants, and said she's already sent a proposal to other tribes.
``As a band, we have an obligation to share with people who do not have enough,'' Benjamin said. ``We must do this because it's what we've been taught. We do this because we can - and we do this because it is the right thing to do.''
The White Earth, Red Lake and Leech Lake tribes, all in far northwestern Minnesota, have discussed partnering with the state of Minnesota to open a new casino in the Twin Cities area. The Mille Lacs band and other tribes with casinos already established in the area oppose the idea, worried that it would hurt their business.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty has said the wealthy tribes could maintain their monopoly by paying the state $350 million from their gambling revenue. Tribal leaders have so far rebuffed Pawlenty's suggestion.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
Some of the less fortunate bands:
I have always wondered. If the Native Americans have such a high rate of poverty, but their casinos generate six digits' worth of profit per man woman and child, who's getting the money?
My uncle, Sen. Jim Vickerman (D), is head of the MN State Gambling Committee. He says no freakin' way is the state going to force the Indians to give them a cut. "Pawlenty got the state into this, and he can get the state out". And that's a quote.
[Meaning, of course, that Pawlenty can go suck eggs].
Fat chance.
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