SMALLPOX OR NEW BUFFALOWhat’s the Right Analogy for Indian Gaming?

By Shalin Hai-Jew

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ABSTRACT:

The social and cultural frame surfaces issues of traditional beliefs and Native identity, the projection of authentic tribal culture, and the importance of tribal unity historically. This case asks learners to consider how to maintain these values in an environment of economic globalization, which may force the issue of economic development and Native American self-sufficiency. 2

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

Investigate the styling and branding of Native American casinos and typical customers

Explore the social impacts and public relations issues surrounding Indian gaming both for the tribe and larger society

Understand the internal and external public relations piece (and strategies) in running casinos (and their various publics)

Understand the essential cultural vs. utilitarian stresses in the issues related to Indian gaming

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LEARNING OUTCOMES (CONT.)

Understand how casinos support and disseminate Native culture and the arts

Know the intrinsic human and hedonic needs satisfied by gaming

Explore various Native American spiritual beliefs and gaming

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TRADITIONAL BELIEFS

Gaming has been a part of Native culture historically to redistribute wealth and circulate possessions within a community

Profit as a motive for gaming is a more modern concept

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NATIVE IDENTITY

There’s a wide range of diversity within the Native American identity and community

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HISTORICAL NOTE “At the time of first European contact with

native peoples in North America, there were approximately 1,000 different tribes, representing a huge array of languages and numerous sub-dialects. Each of these tribes had its own religious practices, social structures, governmental organization, gender division, dress, customs, and rituals. Today, this number has declined to approximately 511 culturally distinct, federally recognized tribes and about an additional 200 unrecognized tribes. And of these remaining tribes, the populations of each have dramatically declined from the time of colonialization through disease and oppression over the past 300 years” (Darian-Smith, 2004, p. 18).

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INDIAN IDENTITY: AUTHENTICITY VS. “PAPER TRIBES”

Various proofs needed by the federal government before official recognition as a Native tribe is extended

Tribes themselves may require blood quantum, documentation and proofs of lineal descent

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FUSION? PAN-INDIAN TRIBES / SUPRA-TRIBALISM

Cornell (1988), however, sees a “supra-tribalism” emerging with the increased mobility of Indian peoples through the powwow circuit and recent activist social movements, which may lead to a sharing of benefits and more unity in Indian Country (as cited by Fenelon, Nov. 2006, p. 395).

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TRADITIONAL VS. MODERN IDENTITY

TRADITIONAL Tracks blood

quantum Tracks language Tracks lineal

descent lines Uses proofs

MODERN Tracks individual

sense of identity Tracks family claims Identity is self-

defined, not for non-Indians to decide

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PROJECTING AND PROTECTING AUTHENTIC NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE Not using Native American spiritual beliefs

for commercialism Fighting mainstream stereotypes by

engaging the larger communityVS. Knowledge and culture have economic

“exchange value”

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SOCIAL CHANGE EFFECTS CONCERNS Individualism vs. communalism Greater economic assimilation of tribes into

the mainstream free market economy Materialism over spiritualism Competition between Native Americans “Hedonic treadmill” effect vs. traditional

gratefulness and humbleness

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UNITY AMONG TRIBES

Need to protect relationships between Native Americans

Keeping the disparity between the “haves” and the “have-nots” in the Native American community low

Encouraging sense of community around an Indian casino

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ROLE PLAYING

Scenario: The scenario is that the tribe seems to be going forward with building a tribal casino. The tribe members are very concerned about how they will be represented to the larger community and their casino-visiting guests. They want policies and practices in place to support the local tribe’s cultures. They want to discuss how potential profits may be spent in a way that is culturally sensitive.

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ROLES AND STANCES

Have learners choose various roles. Have them research what an individual or group in their role may think, and have them argue a coherent stand. Allow room for changes and shifts in ideas if particular aims are met. Have them keep the aims private generally unless they feel it’s strategically helpful to share that with the group. See what sort of final agreement the various individuals may come to.

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ROLES Tribal Elders: Larger Outside Community: Tribal Community Members: A diversity of

voices should be represented here. Tribal Museum Curator: Language Instructor in the Native

Language: K-12 Schools on the Tribe: A Tribal College: The Youth of a Tribe: Tribal Environmentalists:

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CONCLUSION

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