By Carol Harper
Editor, Amador Community News
To me lately, the air fills with a sense of irony that can probably be felt all across the United States in the counties and states that are filling up with Indian casinos. An irony that reflects upon a shameful past, casts a shadow on the present, and carelessly disregards the future.
A friend of mine, Debbie Dunn, and I were chatting in the halls of the new county administrative building one evening, and she had mentioned a very good point. In the Pledge of Allegiance with our hands over our hearts, we recite: "...one nation, under God, indivisible..." Debbie and I agreed about the significance of this pledge, and it gave me food for thought these past few weeks as I sat through two full workshops and three presentations regarding the Buena Vista casino.
The United States government made many treaties with the Indian tribes in the 1700's and 1800's. To get a good feel for the terms and conditions the United States government placed upon my tribe, the Northern Arapaho, go to: http://digital.library.okstate.edu/kappler/Vol2/treaties/nor1012.htm. Treaties totally redefined and changed the Indian way of life. I encourage you to read through some of the treaties on this Web site, and try to get a feel of what it was like to have your family, your tribe, your crops, your hunting grounds, your language, your medicine, your culture - your way of life completely altered and redefined forever. Try to understand the impact of the Removal Act of 1830. Try to understand the magnitude of the Trail of Tears. Try to get an inkling of the kind of irony that I, as an American - a Native American - felt as I sat in these workshops, city and county meetings, listening to the Amador County public rant and complain about how their way of life will be impacted, how their landscape will be marred, how their way of life will be changed, how the reason they chose to move to Amador County was for a simpler, quiet, peaceful hometown way of life.
Now...do we consider ourselves one nation, or many sovereign nations? Are we a nation "under God", or the Great Spirit? Are we indivisible, or easily divided when it comes to decisions that affect us and desperately feel we have no control over? Have we learned nothing from our history lessons?
At the same time, I am most aggrieved at the disregard and disrespect that the Buena Vista "tribe" (one woman and her kids living in Sacramento) and the New York investor has, not only for the voice of the American people, but for what has been deemed - even Federally recognized - as Indian land. Then again, they have no reason to care. Greed has no color, race or ethnicity. Greed is cowardly, and hides behind whomever and whatever it can to come off looking as if it were a philanthropic boon.
But would the ancestors of the Buena Vista tribe be proud of a casino jutting up from rolling landscapes, blocking the sunsets that peer over the hills of Ione? Would the ancestors of the Buena Vista tribe be proud of all the negative impacts associated with a casino placed within the surrounding communities? Would the ancestors of the Buena Vista tribe be proud of how it has divided the communities of Amador County, how it is now viewed as "the enemy"? Again, have we learned nothing from our history lessons?
As I release another big, heavy sigh, I ask myself: Why another casino? Why couldn't the Buena Vista tribe -this one woman - be a hero instead of a villain? There are so many other things that all Indian tribes could do as "one nation, under God" beside plop casinos here and there. Why not bring something else to the county, something better? Why not a cultural and/or performing arts center with an awesome library? How about a career center, or a vocational school? Why not work together with some of the existing organizations, like the Amador Community College Foundation, and bring a community college here? Talk about improving the economy! A community college would not only bring jobs, but bring post high school and continuing education here, something we need! Why can't the Buena Vista tribe, investors and developers bring something like that to the table? Want to improve the economy? Educate its residents! We need more text books, not more slot machines. We need a place to enrich our culture and preserve our historical treasures, to hear the sounds of birds, to get on a horse and ride toward a beautiful sunset, not the sound of cop cars, nor dodging drunks driving towards the glowing lights of the next casino.
If only you'd be our hero! If only you'd care, if only you'd listen! Instead, here we sit as citizens of Amador County and as Native brothers and sisters, divided...wasting tax payers' dollars, with 85% or more of the county losing faith in a public voice and vote that obviously count for nothing. The Federal and State governmental system ignoring us, failing our supposed "one nation under God".
Is it too late? I don't know. It seems like it is. The county cares enough to go tirelessly to every city, to every meeting opportunity to communicate this dilemma, with even their counsel sharing in the collective frustration of a broken governmental system. And should the tribe care? Ironically, given the treaty history, I can see how they wouldn't have to care. But the past is the past, and I for one don't live in the past. They should care, and shame on them if they don't. And all I can say is, when that unwanted casino goes in, the legacy of the Buena Vista tribe will be forever scarred. Is that what your ancestors wanted? A legacy of greed? I hope not.
May the Great Spirit, Who watches over this nation and all of its people, spread His hand from the hills and valleys of Amador County to the streets of New York, and listen to the voice of the people...because it appears that we've forgotten how to listen to each other.
Thank you for your response, Amador County!
I am, once again, overwhelmed. Thank you so much for ALL
your responses!
Below are just a few I've received thus far...
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Personally, I appreciate your sharing what’s on your heart and mind regarding the situation of Indian casinos. Yes, it is ironic. I, too, would like to see tribes consider other economic ventures but sadly, I suspect that finding the financial start-up support for those things isn’t as easy to come by because the profit wouldn’t be as much as it is by keeping those machines spinning. I know some tribes have said they would do, and have done, other things with the profits made by casinos and those are the fastest way to make money. It gets to that 5 letter word greed. And there is the sad knowledge that it’s amazing how far people will drive to listen to that noise, breathe the smoke, stare at the whirling numbers and dream about getting rich. I understand that the Feds thought they would be evening things out if they allowed this kind of stuff to happen. Allowing casinos hasn’t done that. I don’t think gambling and profits can even things out for what happened before. I don’t know, but maybe only by looking at the situation from a very totally different perspective about what else could happen can something good come from this conflict for everyone - the B.V. “tribe” and residents in Amador County. We are running into other greedy things regarding development in this county and this is just one variation on the theme of what happens to the land and the people. I hope we can create something that leaves a legacy of pride gratitude for future generations who will see us as the ancestors who did honorable things.
Thanks for all of your efforts.
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Carol,
Thank you for this very thoughtful essay. I'm not a Native American, but I appreciate your perspective on this important local controversy. The casino issue seems to be very complicated, and most certainly is tainted by greed. Your suggestions for making Amador County a better place are wonderful ideas! I wish they would be considered. These kinds of projects contribute so much to the larger good, but they don't produce that much coveted "bottom line" for the greedy ones. Sadly, money has become "God" for many human beings.
Our whole country (and most of the rest of this small planet) is in such a turmoil these days. Dividing us, and pitting us against one another is (I believe) intentional. The tiny percentage of wealthiest people on Earth (who seem to have insatiable greed) actually WANT us divided so they can keep us confused. Divide and conquer! It makes people fearful, so the "elite" can continue to control us people. And it's been working... so far. :-|
Still, I have hope that "we the people" (ordinary citizens) are getting to a point where we recognize that we've been bamboozled... and we just might begin to exercise our true power. It's interesting to me how Amador County's issues reflect what's going on in the rest of the world... just on a smaller scale. So it goes.
Joyce Bonner
Volcano
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I, too, lost not only my home, but was expelled from the city of my birth (by the Russians), and my parents and our entire family lost everything that was dear to us. East Prussia, the once beautiful easternmost German province now belongs to the Russians and the Poles respectively. German civilian refugees (we were among them) suffered unmentionable cruelties at the hands of the Russians and there was never any attempt on the part of writers of history to truthfully report what really happened. So, I can certainly identify with the suffering of the people whom you regard as your ancestors.
You write eloquently and fairly about the so-called "Indian tribe" that wants to establish yet another casino in Amador County. You are so right: there are many better ways to right past wrongs - if we can just see the possibilities.
Thank you for a piece well written!
All my best,
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Here! Here! Wonderful editorial! I just called the Supervisors hot-line to register my feelings on this matter. I come back to the computer and there is your editorial. Thanks!
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Hi Carol,
Great letter! This world is in trouble and it is everywhere. God is in control!
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Well said!
Brian Oneto
District 5 Supervisor
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Your editorial about the Buena Vista casino situation brought tears to my eyes. What a well-written, thoughtful piece. Wow. Thank you for that perspective.
Terri Daly
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Carol, this is awesome!
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Very well written, and god bless you for being able to put the words,and thoughts.
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I am proud of your thoughts regarding your Native American perspective on the Buena Vista casino. I pray you will become an articulate voice for your people to ponder regarding their greatness and their opportunity to make a difference in our County. It sounds like another white man from New York trying to rob them of their dignity all over again.
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Nicely done Carol. Thanks for sharing your perspective.
Mike Daly
City Manager, Jackson
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I just read your disertation "One Nation..." Yes. Couldn't have said it better myself. Thank you.
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Carol I appreciate your concern for our county. The work you do to manage this website is awesome...Thanks again.
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Dear Carol,
Thank you so much for the comments in your article. Many have no understanding of the beliefs of the natives and transmit their northern European values to all. While I am worried about the reliance on casinos I see that the objectors view the biggest threat is more monetary than traffic. It is more that the "Indians" can finally get some money and live at a decent level.
The crime wave has not inundated Amador County, the morals are not threatened, and we have been able to live in harmony with the Casino and with the money it brings to the community in jobs, services and attitudes.
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I usually do not respond to articles, but I have to tell you this is a well-written message!
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I sure hope that you send this on to the STATE agencies AND the Federal agencies that have even one tiny piece involved with ANY Indian Casino from around the Country! They are the ones that really need to hear this...again...
Unfortunately, they…Buena Vista “tribe” and the NY investor…won’t make LOTS of $$$$ with any of the things that you listed that this County desperately needs!!!! Sadly, “they” won’t go for any of that...
[they] are going to destroy yet some more of Amador County’s beautiful land, I HATE that only a few people are even ALLOWED to get to make these changes and it seems, without anything that we can do! That’s NOT fair!
Thanks! This article is AMAZINGLY “perfect”! Send it to EVERYONE…..especially those that make the decisions in the “higher areas”! ;o}
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I have just read your piece, "One Nation, Under the Great Spirit," and just wanted to tell you how much I appreciated what you said there. I agree with every word you wrote and the sentiment you express with regard to your heritage and history is a powerful message to every American. We are a mixed people now, no matter what our heritage and our history as a people is just as mixed. I, for one, am not a proud American in the sense that we can lightly dismiss the parts of our history that cannot make us proud if we are honest. And, I agree with you that we need to join with each other in finding better solutions that benefit and serve the broader interests. Unfortunately, that also is not our dominant history. We have usually turned to those benefits that have served personal interests. It is a sad history in so many ways. I, too, wish that we could find better ways and means to give all of us a more "hopeful" future. Thank you for expressing this set of choices so beautifully.
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I've been thinking along the same lines since this whole casino thing exploded on Amador County. Actually, I've always identified with Native American philosphies, and believe that there is Karma (ok that's Eastern Indian, but you get my drift) at work with the proliferation of casinos throughout the county, and country for that matter. I, too, wish there was a better way for Native Americans to get their piece of the pie, but I don't see the pendulum swinging the other way in my lifetime.
Thanks for putting your opinion out there. Your message is one that the whole county should hear.
Regards,
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Hi Carol,
What a great piece you wrote - you really hit the target. I wish we could lobby the tribe and convince them. I'm so moved by your essay that I'm ready to try. Excellent piece.
Thank you for writing this and sharing it.
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