Modern Issue, the idea of the "rich indian".

For my first contemporary issue I read, "Most Native Americans Have Not Profited from Gaming". The article consisted of Jacob Coin, a Native American who works as the director of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association, discussing his views of how the Government has been handling affairs with Native Americans. Coin tells the reader that because there is a serious generalization that all Native Americans are wealthy, "Elected officials are proposing to slash by 70 percent funding (for Native American reservations)". The generalization of the "rich Indian" comes from the exclusive right to build casinos, which was given to Native Americans from the the American government. Due to the success of the Casinos the natives pursue, in times of finals troubles, the United States government has no guilty conscience to simply take away parts of funding for Native American projects. What the US government fails to acknowledge is, "roughly 20 percent of tribal casinos are generating 80 percent of the revenues". This means that only a small portion of Native Americans are making a maximum profit off of their casinos. 80% of the natives involved in the casino business are living off of 20% of the profits made overall. Because of this, many Native Americans are as financially excelled as the government may believe. Because the government believes Native Americans have more money then they really do, they cut down on their finances without realizing the truth of what their doing, further impoverishing our countries natives. Interestingly enough, taken even further, the state of California was, "a great share of tribal gaming revenues to help bail the state out of its fiscal woes". As if it wasn't ridiculas enough that the government is debating taking away a portion of the profits made from a right which they legally gave the the Native Americans, the US Government also claims, "tribes do not pay 'their fair share'...". The US government explains they believe the Native Americans are not paying for the land and rights which they were given. Should the government look around, they may realize they did not give the Natives the land they live on, but rather allowed them to live their. The Natives have been forced out of land which was rightfully theirs for years, but still the US government pushes the race around. Even today rays of the ruthless first Americans are shown.

Most Native Americans Have Not Profited from Gaming. Jacob Coin. At issue: Indian Gaming. Ed. Stuart A. Kalled. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2006.