Monday, November 2, 1998
Vote yes on Prop. 5, backing Native American sovereignty
GAMBLING: MEChA de UCLA says Self-Reliance Initiative will
improve reservation life’s quality
By Li’i Furumoto
Vote yes on Proposition 5. The November 1998 ballot contains
many important issues on which voters will have to decide. Among
the most crucial is Proposition 5, the Indian Self-Reliance
Initiative.
This initiative is of utmost importance because it affects the
quality of life for many California American Indians. Knowing the
facts on this issue should be of concern to all of us.
This initiative is not only receiving a tremendous amount of
media and commercial attention, it is also being presented as a
very confusing issue when in fact, it is not.
It is the hope of MEChA de UCLA to discuss with you, the reader,
some of the key points of Proposition 5 and to encourage you to
vote yes on Proposition 5 on Nov. 3.
Before we discuss Proposition 5, it is important to know a
little history about the indigenous people of California.
Prior to European contact, there were thousands of indigenous
people who had their own culture.
The lives of many California Native Americans, especially those
near the coast, were interrupted by the Spanish missionaries and
conquistadors who tried to force these groups to work as slaves on
their missions.
After Spanish colonial rule, Anglo settlers and European
immigrants moved to California during the Gold Rush.
Throughout this process of colonization, millions of indigenous
people were killed by disease and warfare.
When the state of California was established, they continued to
write laws that impinged on the rights of the indigenous
people.
The state allowed people to kill Native Americans and to force
them into indentured servitude.
Native California groups did survive, however, and currently
there are 104 reservations in this state. But the living conditions
and standard of life for many California Native Americans is
poor.
On the reservation, Native Americans suffer from high infant
morality rates, fetal alcohol syndrome and lack of adequate health
care or education. Many lack adequate housing with running water
and electricity; poverty and joblessness is rampant and there are
few resources to help maintain their traditional ways and values.
The reservations and tribes lack true economic development, but
many tribes have found hope to improve their conditions through
Indian Gaming.
Based upon this history, what could possibly be so detrimental
about Indian Gaming and Proposition 5? Many people argue that there
is a problem with Indian Gaming. MEChA de UCLA, however, would
argue that it comes down to one fundamental point  Native
American sovereignty.
Native Americans were sovereign for many years. It is just now
that they must make their own decisions about what to do with their
land and community. Even under U.S. law, although indigenous people
were "conquered" and colonized, they have signed treaties that
guarantee them certain rights as sovereign people. Native
California tribes have their own systems of governance as well as
rights to live as they choose on their reservations.
These rights should be respected and upheld, especially if what
California Indian tribes wish to do is improve their quality of
life.
Basically, Proposition 5 would do the following: it would allow
California tribes to keep the gaming they currently have at Indian
casinos on their own land to provide jobs, education funds,
economic development, cultural preservation, housing and health
care programs for their tribal members.
It gives up to 6 percent of the net revenues from gaming
machines at Indian casinos to support programs that will benefit
non-gaming tribes and Californians statewide.
It puts into state law strict gaming regulatory procedures and
health and safety standards for Indian casinos.
Gaming tribes will reimburse the state for all regulatory
expenses; thus, there will be no cost to California taxpayers.
Gov. Pete Wilson, Las Vegas casinos, and others do not want
Proposition 5 to pass. Wilson has negotiated a "backroom" deal with
a single tribe. The Pala Band signed a Tribal-State compact with
Wilson that would be unfair to the all California Indian tribes in
this state. This compact would take up to three-fourths of the
revenues that tribes currently receive from gaming. As a result,
Indian funds for health care, housing and education would be
eliminated.
More than 90 percent of California Native American tribes
support Proposition 5. Organizations that have come out in support
of the Indian Self-Reliance Initiative are the National Latino
Caucus, the International Laborers Union, the California
Firefighters Association, various Indian service organizations, and
more.
MEChA de UCLA urges everyone to stand up for justice and unite
with American Indians to vote yes on Proposition 5.
The struggle for self-determination of a sovereign nation is our
struggle as Chicana/o people. Colonial powers and the State of
California have oppressed indigenous people for too long.
It’s time to ensure that the living conditions of California
Indians are improved and that their tribal rights are
protected.
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