Page 32 - November 2007 • Southern California Gaming Guide

November 2007 Tribes in the News
20th Anniversary of Historic California v. Cabazon Decision Celebrated
Twenty years ago, two California tribes fought for their sovereign right to create economic opportunity on the reservation. In 1987, the United States Supreme Court ruled in California v. Cabazon Band of Mission Indians and Morongo Band, that Indian tribes have “sovereignty over their members and their territory,”
and that States have no right to interfere with tribal self-government.
decision lit the fuse for a brand new wave of economic development for Indian nations.
According to the National Indian Gaming Association’s 2006 Indian Gaming Economic Impact Report, Indian gaming is not only succeeding, but it is also critical to the economic success of states, counties and local municipalities. Nationwide, 225 Indian tribes in 28 states use Indian gaming to create new jobs, fund
essential government services and rebuild communities.
In 2006, trial governments generated:
• 670,000 jobs nationwide for American Indians and
our neighbors (direct and indirect jobs created by
Indian gaming’s economic multiplier e ect)
• $8.6 billion in Federal taxes and revenue savings (including employer and employee Social Security taxes, income taxes, excise taxes, and savings on
unemployment and welfare payments)
• $2.4 billion in state taxes, revenue sharing, and regulatory payments (including state income, sales and excise taxes, regulatory payments and revenue
sharing pursuant to Tribal-State compacts)
• More than $100 million in payments to local
governments.
Indian fry bread and shop among 60 arts and crafts vendors for jewelry, weavings, dream catchers and other types of Native American art. ere are also opportunities to join dancers in the arena during noncompetitive intertribal dancing.
e weekend powwow schedule is Friday, November 23rd 5 p.m. to midnight; Saturday, November 24th 11 a.m. to midnight; and Sunday, November 25th 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Powwow daily admission is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors, and free for children 12 and under. For information, call (760) 238-5770, or visit the powwow website at www.fantasyspringsresort.com/cbmi.
...Tribes in the News Continues on page 33
2007 marks the 20th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s monumental Cabazon decision, one of the most signi cant turning points for tribal governments. During the National Indian Gaming Association’s (NIGA) Annual Trade Show in March 2007, NIGA presented an award to both the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, who litigated the case. Recently, at the Morongo Band’s annual powwow, NIGA Chairman Ernest Stevens, Jr. presented Morongo Chairman Robert Martin and Vice Chairwoman Mary Ann Andreas with a three- foot statue of a traditional California Indian woman to honor Morongo as a “Defender of Sovereignty.” NIGA will make the same presentation to the Cabazon Band at an upcoming event. e presentations are historic because of the impact of the Cabazon decision on all Indian tribes across the country.
“Tribes across the country continue to create more jobs and fuel the economies of their states and the nation while building new schools, health clinics,
housing, police and re protection, as well as the many infrastructure needs of their communities,” said Chairman Stevens. He continued, “As we acknowledge and celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Cabazon decision, we are also grateful for the doors of opportunity that the decision opened and made possible,” said Stevens.
e high stakes bingo operations run by these two tribes were protected aspects of tribal sovereignty because in the words of the Court,“ ey are generating value on the reservations through activities in which they have a substantial interest and they dedicate bingo revenues to promoting the health, education, and general welfare of the tribal members.”
e decision in Cabazon represents a signi cant milestone for tribes across the country and is critical to the achievements today. e decision o ered tribal governments hope and opportunity to develop their economies after two centuries of government policies that sought to terminate tribal governments. is
26th Indio Powwow & Native American Festival
It will be a “family reunion” of sorts for hundreds of Native American tribal members from the U.S. and Canada when they make their way to the 26th Indio Powwow & Native American Festival on the weekend following anksgiving, November 23rd–25th, at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino’s Special Events Center on the Cabazon Indian reservation near Indio.
Sponsored by the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians and its Cabazon Cultural Museum, these representatives will come together to trade, socialize and honor feats of bravery and achievement, said Cabazon Tribal Chairman John A. James. Fall gatherings celebrated the successful harvest and allowed people to come together to feast, dance, sing and hold ceremonies.
“We are honored to have so many ne Native American dancers and singers participating in this powwow,” said Chairman James. “I would also like to
welcome our non-Indian neighbors and I hope you will enjoy and participate in the festivities. As our saying goes,‘powwows are for everyone’.”
A highlight of each powwow is the Grand Entry, when all the dancers form a procession, winding around the arena in a clock wise direction. Preceding the dancers are the Eagle Sta and the color guard. Grand Entries are scheduled for 8 p.m., Friday the 23rd, 1 p.m. and 8p.m.,Saturdaythe24thand1p.m.Sundaythe25th.
Visitors to the Indio Powwow will have an opportunity to taste Native American foods such as
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Page 32
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
November 2007
Southern California Tribes in the News