Demonstrating familiarity with Tribal Nation Building

How the tribal government set the stage for tribal gaming around the country

Tribal governments set the stage for tribal gaming by first cementing a historical and legal position in the country's politics. The tribal government took an interest in investing in the available human capital that, in the long run, produced a stable political capital. In order to achieve stable capital, the tribal governments injected their gaming revenues to improve the Indian community (Spilde 72). Investments into the community generated some goodwill that automatically translated to popular support. It was also through popular support that the tribal government could find leverage when discussing matters like tribal gaming with either the state or the federal policymakers. With the firm position in government, tribal governments got Congress to support them as they formed laws that regulated tribal gaming.

Tribal Government Plan for the Future

In Washington, DC, in 1998, a realization arrived, and there was a rise of a contemporary long-run project that showed Indians’ interest in the political field. The tribal government also had a future plan in the event benefits from gaming could diminish (Spilde 77). The tribal government invested in social institutions and infrastructure, such as schools and communities, thus diversifying its benefit source (Spilde 74). The governments would also invest in public education, media relations, and coalition building. By diversifying, some tribal governments have attained fiscal independence through their investment of the gaming revenues received on other aspects such as the economy.

How gaming contributed to a resurgence of Native Southern California communities and cultures

In Southern California, native cultures and communities gaming contributed to their resurgence through a Self-reliance Initiative. As the American Indian per capita income went on growing, due to the gaming revenue, so did their self-determination and self-reliance. It is through the gaming revenue that some of Native Southern California Indian communities started boosting other Indian communities (Akee, Spilde and Taylor 42). Some of the natives could rise against all economic odds and rescue their fellow communities that were facing economic challenges.

Gaming of Small Native Communities in State Politics

Small Native communities ended up playing huge roles in relation to state politics. The injection of their gaming revenues into the social investment allowed the native communities to help the local and national governments cover some expenses. For instance, from the gaming revenues, the native communities could provide government services such as fire and ambulance together with covering the local police expenses (Spilde 73). The Native governments also got involved in providing electricity, sewer lines, provision of clean water storage and paved roads as well. On a larger scale, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma spends its gaming revenues on building a hospital. Bands like. The Sycuan band was also recorded to donate money to schools among other social infrastructures (Sycuan Tribe).

Control and Limit Tribal Gaming by the State Of California

Tribal gaming was a major boost to the tribal government because of the revenues they received. This, however, brought issues as some legislatures through Congress as they tried to amend the gaming laws (Spilde 80). Some policymakers attempted to change that law on the basis that the inclusion of more tribes would create competition instability in the already existing market. Governors like Pete Wilson developed laws that limited the gaming machines each gaming facility had. These laws brought burdens on operations of tribal gaming, thus forcing the gaming facilities to bring in low returns (Akee, Spilde, and Taylor 42). Another reason that got to the legislature was the Cabazon decision that argued that the gaming operations had attracted criminals.

Work Cited

Akee, Randall, Katherine Spilde Ph.D., and Jonathan B. Taylor. "Social and economic changes on American Indian reservations in California: an examination of twenty years of tribal government gaming." UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal 18.2 (2014): 3.

Spilde, Katherine A. "Creating a political space for American Indian economic development: Indian gaming and American Indian activism." M., Checker, M. Fisher, (Eds.), Local actions: Cultural activism, power, and public life in America (2004): 71-88.

Sycuan Tribe. Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Indians - 12,000 Years of History. YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNobWRtEY6w. Accessed 7 May 2019.