Post by blackcrowheart on Jun 17, 2007 22:24:11 GMT -5
Indians face 'self termination era' Wisconsin Chippewa leader says
enemy is within
MADISON, Wis. -- American Indians in Wisconsin are in an era of ''self
termination,'' the tribal chairwoman of the Red Cliff Band of Lake
Superior Chippewa told state lawmakers at the annual State of the Tribes
speech Thursday.
''Bigotry, racism is still alive and well,'' said Patricia R. DePerry,
who has served as tribal chairwoman since 2005. ''We ourselves need a
lot of work as well. We are in a self termination era. Excuse me, we
don't need your help to get us there. We are doing it to ourselves.''
After the speech, DePerry said the state's tribes are in danger of self
terminating because they are not united in their priorities, are
disengaged with one another and generally do not work well together.
''We should act as one, not divided,'' she said. ''The various tribes in
the state of Wisconsin, we can still stand as one.''
A number of hidden, ugly issues keep the state's 11 Indian tribes
separated from one another and other Wisconsin residents, DePerry said.
'I was raised to share'One of those issues is Indian gambling -- not all
tribes have benefitted equally from casinos, she said.
''I was raised to share,'' said DePerry, who suggested the tribes pool
their profits. ''I was raised to use what I can use, and what I cannot,
I was raised to give. It's tearing us apart.''
All 11 tribes have gambling agreements with the state, according to the
Department of Administration. Collectively, they operate 23 ''gaming
locations'' offering such activities as roulette, craps and blackjack.
The state is prohibited from releasing revenue for each tribe.
Collectively, tribal casinos and gambling sites reported revenues of
$1.1 billion in 2005.
Distance hurtsDePerry's tribe, located in the northernmost tip of
Wisconsin, runs the Isle Vista Casino in Red Cliff, which is 220 miles
from Minneapolis and 370 miles from Milwaukee.
She said its distance from population centers has hurt the casino's
profits.
DePerry said she hoped policy makers would focus in the coming year on
economic development, health care and issues that improve the general
welfare of all Wisconsin citizens.
enemy is within
MADISON, Wis. -- American Indians in Wisconsin are in an era of ''self
termination,'' the tribal chairwoman of the Red Cliff Band of Lake
Superior Chippewa told state lawmakers at the annual State of the Tribes
speech Thursday.
''Bigotry, racism is still alive and well,'' said Patricia R. DePerry,
who has served as tribal chairwoman since 2005. ''We ourselves need a
lot of work as well. We are in a self termination era. Excuse me, we
don't need your help to get us there. We are doing it to ourselves.''
After the speech, DePerry said the state's tribes are in danger of self
terminating because they are not united in their priorities, are
disengaged with one another and generally do not work well together.
''We should act as one, not divided,'' she said. ''The various tribes in
the state of Wisconsin, we can still stand as one.''
A number of hidden, ugly issues keep the state's 11 Indian tribes
separated from one another and other Wisconsin residents, DePerry said.
'I was raised to share'One of those issues is Indian gambling -- not all
tribes have benefitted equally from casinos, she said.
''I was raised to share,'' said DePerry, who suggested the tribes pool
their profits. ''I was raised to use what I can use, and what I cannot,
I was raised to give. It's tearing us apart.''
All 11 tribes have gambling agreements with the state, according to the
Department of Administration. Collectively, they operate 23 ''gaming
locations'' offering such activities as roulette, craps and blackjack.
The state is prohibited from releasing revenue for each tribe.
Collectively, tribal casinos and gambling sites reported revenues of
$1.1 billion in 2005.
Distance hurtsDePerry's tribe, located in the northernmost tip of
Wisconsin, runs the Isle Vista Casino in Red Cliff, which is 220 miles
from Minneapolis and 370 miles from Milwaukee.
She said its distance from population centers has hurt the casino's
profits.
DePerry said she hoped policy makers would focus in the coming year on
economic development, health care and issues that improve the general
welfare of all Wisconsin citizens.