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The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, which helped pave the way for Indian gaming in Arizona, donated $250,000 to three Nebraska tribes trying to get approval for a casino of their own.
The Nebraska tribes sought support and advice from Fort McDowell, which is noted for its gambling successes and recently unveiled a new slogan: "Never give up. Always give back."
"We have a long track record of being successful and promoting our right to self-governance and self-sufficiency," said Fort McDowell General Manager Orlando Moreno. "It's an honor to be looked at by other tribes as a resource."
The $250,000 from Fort McDowell was the single largest contribution and represented 60 percent of the campaign fund established by the Santee Sioux, Omaha and Winnebago tribes. The money was used in a signature-collection drive, which would have put a gaming amendment to the Nebraska Constitution on the Nov. 7 ballot.
However, the petitions were due Friday, and the tribes could not collect enough signatures in time, said political consultant Ben Thompson of Omaha, Neb., who is working with the tribes.
The three Nebraska tribes, which already are considering trying again on a future ballot, were hoping a casino would have jump-started economic development and job opportunities, similar to Fort McDowell's experience.
Fort McDowell, which is east of Fountain Hills, prevailed in a 1992 standoff with the Arizona and U.S. governments, whose agents removed slot machines from the tribe's casino.
Fort McDowell now employs more than 2,000 people and has watched gaming revenues snowball over the years.
The tribe now operates a number of other businesses, including the We-Ko-Pa Golf Club and Radisson Resort.
It also keeps expanding its benefits to community members, including the 144 new homes built or under construction for tribal members.
Nebraska opposition
Gambling opponent Pat Loontjer of Omaha said she would like to see the tribes grow economically, but she is skeptical casinos would do that. Instead, Loontjer said she thinks gaming profits would go to companies that operate the casinos, not the tribal members.
"We're opposed to any expanded gambling in Nebraska. Economic devastation for one thing. The devastation that it causes to families: the bankruptcy, the divorce, the crime. This is not anything we want for Nebraska," said Loontjer, executive director of a volunteer group called Gambling with the Good Life.
Nebraska voters, however, still will have another gaming initiative on the Nov. 7 ballot.
Casino owner Boyd Gaming Inc. gave nearly $1.2 million for a separate proposal that would allow three casinos in Nebraska, according to the state's Accountability and Disclosure Commission.
Could try again
Thompson said the Santee Sioux, Omaha and Winnebago tribes might try the campaign again sometime after the November election.
Working under the name Nebraskans for Local Community Development and Tribal Self-Reliance, the tribes have proposed building one joint casino off Indian land, which would have been closer to that state's populated areas. An alternative would have allowed one casino on each of the three reservations.
Moreno said Fort McDowell was not looking for anything in return for its $250,000 donation and free consulting.
Janice Jessen, who was doing the Nebraska tribes' marketing, agreed.
"It's their (Fort McDowell's) own experience in trying to get a casino on their reservation, and all the things they went through to get that to happen, (that) has given the feeling to help someone else in that same situation," Jessen said.
"In Indian country, these tribes try to work together as much as possible. They've gone through this, saw an opportunity to assist these other three tribes in this effort." |
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