Post by Okwes on Jul 6, 2006 13:58:54 GMT -5
Nations on the rise
James Faulk The Times-Standard
www.times-standard.com/local/ci_4005384
<http://www.times-standard.com/local/ci_4005384>
Tribes gain traction in the political process
EUREKA -- For the first time in their recent history,
two local tribes are exercising considerable political
influence in Humboldt County by wielding their
suddenly flush checkbooks.
The Blue Lake Rancheria and the Bear River Band of the
Rohnerville Rancheria were among the biggest money
players in the 2006 Humboldt County election.
In the race for 4th District supervisor, the Blue Lake
Rancheria donated $10,000 to the campaign of Bonnie
Neely.
In the race for Humboldt County district attorney, the
Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria donated
$10,000 to District Attorney Paul Gallegos.
To be fair, this money pales in comparison to the gobs
of cash spent in the recall campaign against Gallegos,
for instance, which totaled more than $700,000, but it
is a significant uptick from the tribes' past giving
-- that is, zilch.
Supporting these candidates was a decision made by the
respective tribal councils, and it parallels a
national trend where tribal political giving has gone
through the roof in recent years.
According to the website www.politicalmoneyline.com,
tribes nationwide have given $25 million over the past
five years alone.
Nationally, pundits claim that the giving stems from
Indian gaming and the economic development that has
spurred.
In Humboldt County, that is true for the Bear River
Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria.
"This is the first time we've been able to give -- the
casino has helped us out in that particular area, to
have the money to give," said Chairman Leonard Bowman.
But for the Blue Lake Rancheria, a tribe that is a
little further along in its casino enterprise,
political spending actually comes from other business
ventures that were started independently of the
tribe's casino earnings. The gaming money goes
exclusively to service debt and into community
investments, said Chairwoman Arla Ramsey.
"The funds that we put out do not come from the
casino," said Ramsey. "The only money that we spend
from the casino goes into tribal government programs
and paying off our debt."
The tribe has several other businesses, including a
personnel company, that were started without casino
earnings. Several of those businesses have taken off,
and that money is what's directed to politics and
candidates. Now that they've stepped into the arena,
there's no going back.
"This will be something that we'll continue to do in
the future," she said.
The two candidates who were supported by the tribes,
Gallegos and 4th District Supervisor Bonnie Neely,
said the donations represent a positive step for
American Indians, one that will almost certainly lead
to brighter days for a group of people that has borne
a series of historic
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hardships, often at the hands of the nation's
political leadership.
"The history of our interaction with the Native
American people has gone from abuse to neglect," said
Gallegos. "Soon, neglect will not be an option. We
need to understand how fortunate we are to have such a
rich source of Native American people and cultures
here in Humboldt County."
Neely said she approached the Blue Lake Rancheria for
an endorsement and ultimately received that and more.
Their giving, Neely said, is another part of the
tribe's stepping up in the community -- they've become
one of the biggest employers in the area, she said,
and this is another facet of that.
"They are emerging as an economic force in our
community now, so it is not surprising that they are
also becoming players in the political arena," she
said.
Nationally, the American Indian political donations
phenomenon has led to some controversy, when some
high-profile lobbyists -- like the notorious Jack
Abramoff -- have thrown their money around. Whether
these products of Washington really have American
Indian interests in mind is debatable.
Even North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson, D-St.
Helena, had a run-in with money that came through a
tribe represented by Abramoff -- the Agua Caliente
Band of the Cuahilla Indians.
Thompson received the $1,500 from the tribe in 2000
and 2002, and at that time had not heard of Abramoff,
who recently pleaded guilty to offering money and
other treats for political favors. He later donated
that money because he didn't want to have any
association with anything to with Abramoff.
Thompson said that while the amount of American Indian
political donations has increased, it has not
necessarily raised the amount of attention the tribes
receive in Washington, D.C.
"I don't think that the tribes get an appropriate
level of discussion even after all this giving," he
said.
Bowman said that he hopes the giving raises the
profile and influence of local and non-local tribes,
but added that with influence comes responsibility.
"I would hope Native Americans would always watch what
they're doing with their power," he said. "I think
they would because they've seen how power was used
against us."
James Faulk The Times-Standard
www.times-standard.com/local/ci_4005384
<http://www.times-standard.com/local/ci_4005384>
Tribes gain traction in the political process
EUREKA -- For the first time in their recent history,
two local tribes are exercising considerable political
influence in Humboldt County by wielding their
suddenly flush checkbooks.
The Blue Lake Rancheria and the Bear River Band of the
Rohnerville Rancheria were among the biggest money
players in the 2006 Humboldt County election.
In the race for 4th District supervisor, the Blue Lake
Rancheria donated $10,000 to the campaign of Bonnie
Neely.
In the race for Humboldt County district attorney, the
Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria donated
$10,000 to District Attorney Paul Gallegos.
To be fair, this money pales in comparison to the gobs
of cash spent in the recall campaign against Gallegos,
for instance, which totaled more than $700,000, but it
is a significant uptick from the tribes' past giving
-- that is, zilch.
Supporting these candidates was a decision made by the
respective tribal councils, and it parallels a
national trend where tribal political giving has gone
through the roof in recent years.
According to the website www.politicalmoneyline.com,
tribes nationwide have given $25 million over the past
five years alone.
Nationally, pundits claim that the giving stems from
Indian gaming and the economic development that has
spurred.
In Humboldt County, that is true for the Bear River
Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria.
"This is the first time we've been able to give -- the
casino has helped us out in that particular area, to
have the money to give," said Chairman Leonard Bowman.
But for the Blue Lake Rancheria, a tribe that is a
little further along in its casino enterprise,
political spending actually comes from other business
ventures that were started independently of the
tribe's casino earnings. The gaming money goes
exclusively to service debt and into community
investments, said Chairwoman Arla Ramsey.
"The funds that we put out do not come from the
casino," said Ramsey. "The only money that we spend
from the casino goes into tribal government programs
and paying off our debt."
The tribe has several other businesses, including a
personnel company, that were started without casino
earnings. Several of those businesses have taken off,
and that money is what's directed to politics and
candidates. Now that they've stepped into the arena,
there's no going back.
"This will be something that we'll continue to do in
the future," she said.
The two candidates who were supported by the tribes,
Gallegos and 4th District Supervisor Bonnie Neely,
said the donations represent a positive step for
American Indians, one that will almost certainly lead
to brighter days for a group of people that has borne
a series of historic
----------------------------------------------------------\
--------
Advertisement
----------------------------------------------------------\
--------
hardships, often at the hands of the nation's
political leadership.
"The history of our interaction with the Native
American people has gone from abuse to neglect," said
Gallegos. "Soon, neglect will not be an option. We
need to understand how fortunate we are to have such a
rich source of Native American people and cultures
here in Humboldt County."
Neely said she approached the Blue Lake Rancheria for
an endorsement and ultimately received that and more.
Their giving, Neely said, is another part of the
tribe's stepping up in the community -- they've become
one of the biggest employers in the area, she said,
and this is another facet of that.
"They are emerging as an economic force in our
community now, so it is not surprising that they are
also becoming players in the political arena," she
said.
Nationally, the American Indian political donations
phenomenon has led to some controversy, when some
high-profile lobbyists -- like the notorious Jack
Abramoff -- have thrown their money around. Whether
these products of Washington really have American
Indian interests in mind is debatable.
Even North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson, D-St.
Helena, had a run-in with money that came through a
tribe represented by Abramoff -- the Agua Caliente
Band of the Cuahilla Indians.
Thompson received the $1,500 from the tribe in 2000
and 2002, and at that time had not heard of Abramoff,
who recently pleaded guilty to offering money and
other treats for political favors. He later donated
that money because he didn't want to have any
association with anything to with Abramoff.
Thompson said that while the amount of American Indian
political donations has increased, it has not
necessarily raised the amount of attention the tribes
receive in Washington, D.C.
"I don't think that the tribes get an appropriate
level of discussion even after all this giving," he
said.
Bowman said that he hopes the giving raises the
profile and influence of local and non-local tribes,
but added that with influence comes responsibility.
"I would hope Native Americans would always watch what
they're doing with their power," he said. "I think
they would because they've seen how power was used
against us."