trmt 396 lecture #7 dan mcdonald. both casinos & cultural centres can be seen as efforts to...
TRANSCRIPT
TRMT 396
Lecture #7
Dan McDonald
Both casinos & cultural centres can be seen as efforts to effect change
Sovereignty and Survival at the core of each
Whether to focus on economy or culture as the route
Local conditions, history and relations shape the choice and the evolution
Gaming on reserves in U.S since the 1940’s bingo halls
(1982)Indian Casinos first legalized in Minnesota
Mid 8o’s court cases in Florida & California
U.S. steps in to regulate with NIGC
(1996) Casino Rama (ONT) & Bear Claw (SK)open
Presently 17 in Canada (out of 70+ total) but 200+ in U.S.
For many communities first real economic driver in a century
Allows ↑choice/agency in contrast to program based development
Some capital payouts ( e.g. Mystic Lake) but most use to make social investment & ↑ land base
Often catalyst & funding source for creation of cultural centre (e.g. Yavapai Apache)
Wealth can shift balance of relationships & shift view to net contributor (e.g. 1999 est. Tulalip injects 25.4 mil into local economy; Foxwoods donated $1 mil to start tourism organization)
Not all large- many small, with local focus
Impacts can be rapid and fall both ways (e.g. Foxwoods gets 50,000 visitors each day)
Social outfall (crime, addiction, etc)
Cash basis of the business ( ↑ risk of theft & embezzlement)
Profits may undermine cultural integrity (e.g enrolment demand in some communities)
Can exacerbate inequality between tribes (urban/rural)
Often outsider dominance of top jobs
Temporal nature – potential boom/bust
Anders (1999)
Often with tribal motifs and entertainment
Sometimes a conscious link to NaturePequot’s slogan of
“Gaming in Its Natural State”
Tribal members in front line positions
Community events venue
Chosen cultural Expression has links to others
Expressions vary in importance re sustaining community
Outside influence can cause substitution or adaption
Expressions can be linked (strength varies)↑in one = ↑in all/ ↓in one= ↓in all↑in one = ↓in others etc.
↑Attention, can ↑practice & strength
Knowing significance is keyCarter (2003)
Protect a significant cultural site
Tell history from their perspective
Create a place to learn from the elders
Increase community member employment
Recognize ownership of landBoth external (cultural tourism,
museum display) and internal (teaching language, preserving memories, maintaining social ties, caring for the land,
etc) foci
Christen (2007)
Stress the imposition of colonial power & survival
Reversal of ‘gaze’ with visitor objectified
No owners namesLittle
interpretation/depends on local to explain
Involve greater community in dance & language program
Legitimize a local hierarchical system & families
Grouped by family early on , but still identify
Stress honouring memory
Exclusive authorized performers/legitimize current leaders
Nuyumbalees
Mauzé (2003)
Evidence of start in 1800’sStudy of 4 centres
Mashantucket Pequot, Navajo, Wind River (Eastern
Shoshone) , AcomaEvoking difference
Visibly invisibleAudibly inaudible
“displayed withholding”This discourse can cause
internal divides as well
Lawlor (2006)
Is it a choice of priorities or of means?
Are the costs worth the gains, both within communities and in the region?
Both choices are open to judgment from the dominant society and visitors
Both “spaces of hope” for success and re-dress
Anders, G. (1999). Indian Gaming: Financial and Regulatory Issues. In Johnson, T. (ed). Contemporary Native American Political Issues. Walnut Creek, CA: Altamira Press.
Belanger, Y. (2011). First Nations Gaming in Canada. Winnipeg, MB: University of Manitoba Press.
Christen, K. (2007). Following the Nyinkka: Relations of Respect and Obligation to Act in the Collaborative Work of Aboriginal Cultural Centers. Museum Anthropology. 30 (2): 101-124.
Cozetto, D. (1995). The Economic and Social Implications of Indian Gaming: The Case of Minnesota. American Indian Culture and Research Journal. 19 (1): 119-131.
d’ Hauteserre, A-M. (20oo). Lessons in managed destination competitiveness: the case of Foxwoods Casino Resort. Tourism Management. 21: 23-32.
Lawlor, M.(2006). Public Native America: Tribal Self-Representation in Museums, Powwows and Casinos. Piscataway, NJ: Rutgers.
Zeppel, H. (2002). Cultural Tourism at the Cowichan Native Village, British Columbia. Journal of Travel Research. 41: 92-100.