Chalk up one more in-close attack against Indian tribes exercising their legal right of self-government. Attacks come regularly now; let’s track it and answer as much of it as we can. Not long ago we commented on the unacceptable language used by National Review editor, Rich Lowry that seemed to characterize a whole people, an easy intellectual pose these days that is nevertheless suspect for its bigotry in assigning new overall stereotypes to American Indians.
This week, it’s a perspective column in that well-established challenger of Indian country realities, The Wall Street Journal. Mostly, the Journal has published misleading editorials that travel far off the mark of what is truly happening in Indian country, its base of legalities in history and federal relations, and its connective tissue in Congress and in case law and constitutional reference. The present article, “Indian Givers,” signed by John Fund is more intelligent, if just as objectionable, as earlier ones.
Without really stating his reasons, Fund strikes a pose of disgust against Indian contributions to political candidates. The pose attempts to make axiomatic the assertion that tribes getting involved in California politics should be labeled as “unseemly.” But, as opposed to what, say, Arnold’s multi-million dollar self-financing? Or Arianna Huffington’s billion dollar back-up? Big money, corporations, the Christian right, the Hollywood left, everyone can give to political candidates without being called “sleazy,” or again, “unseemly,” everyone, that is, except Indian tribes.
Now begins another heavy backlash against the Indian jurisdictions that protect and give strength to American Indian governments and their growing economic enterprises. The Native advances of the 1990s, only now being felt, are already under serious attack. Following the derivative lead of The Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine and the National Review, extreme right wing radio is also starting to rail against Indian tribal rights. The reality is that the American public largely comprehends and supports the tribal rights to self-government, but they must continually be reached. Indian country needs to talk to itself and to the American public. It needs to respond and answer constantly these kinds of confusing, convoluted and obfuscated perspectives as offered in these mainstream media outlets. Protecting and defending tribal economic development and what has been possible so far will take a highly intelligent, organized and concerted effort – one that is capable of delivering factual content in real time.
Expect the beating up on Indians to continue from certain sectors of the extreme right. The Wall Street Journal editorial page has its line and spin. Of late O’Reilly and Limbaugh (who described Indians as “savages”), National Review’s Lowry and now Fund and others are giving evidence of a coming cavalry charge. It’s the current of the moment for certain sectors of the extreme right who have grown accustomed to lying to the American people to destroy the original governments and economies of Indian country. Interestingly, the Democratic Party of Clinton-Gore understood Indian self-government and its importance to revitalizing the results of horrible genocide and ethnocide, colonialism, federal negligence and corruption. And while the moderate right at the moment is not in control of the Republican Party, it was Richard Nixon who introduced the policy of tribal self-government after decades of termination and theft of Indian assets. Today, John McCain, R-Ariz., and other Republicans, understanding America’s need to make good on its obligations to a constructive Indian policy, also back those “islands of freedom” so aptly described by California State Senator Tom McClintock, the conservative candidate of credential in the California recall.
If not ignorance, per se, there is certainly a sour smell to this kind of knee-jerk attack on tribal involvement in state-wide politics. According to columnist Fund, the tribes have used a “dubious loophole,” which enabled them to give $2 million in contributions to Cruz Bustamante. But the “loophole” Fund points to is simply called the law, as when applied specifically to Native tribal governments. If it is legal, what makes it “unseemly,” until or unless otherwise changed by law? Fund complains about Bustamante’s brother Andrew running a casino for the Mono tribe. But this is not a reason for tribes “pouring money into Bustamante campaign,” and labeling Bustamante as a “compliant supporter” of tribes. Bustamante is not a “compliant” supporter, Mr. Fund. In fact, he is an ardent supporter, one who on many occasions has exhibited his knowledge and commitment to tribal governments, as well as cultural and spiritual customs.
Again, this is loaded prose. Why not respect the tribal acumen in backing the politicians who have understood the tribal sovereignty position most clearly and are willing to work with and for the tribes in their compacts and other legal hurdles to set up enterprises that have proven to be great economic stimulants all across California. Why assume that Bustamante can be bought or influenced, when all the tribes have done is make open, if meaningful, contributions to his campaign. The same should also apply for candidate McClintock, who has also received tribal support. Bustamante’s and McClintock’s opinions on the issues, as they both gain status in the state, certainly will be theirs alone. Again the columnist is assuming a lot.
Indian country nonetheless is on a roll. Financial institutions are only now beginning to flourish. Tribal influence in politics is now present and growing. But tribal America needs more growth and economic stimulus than ever. The Journal piece bemoans Bustamante’s support for expanded rather than restricted casinos. But perhaps Bustamante and even McClintock basically understand the tremendous economic benefits for various regions and the important constituencies now related to these enterprises.
Presently restricted to 2,000 machines per tribe, many people believe this limitation makes no economic sense. What possible reason is there to restrict tribal growth this way? Columnist Fund doesn’t say who complained exactly but that “complaints about Indian casinos prompted Gray Davis to limit tribes to 2,000 machines.” Since both Governor Davis and Cruz Bustamante are now promising to delimit the number of machines, it makes sense for the tribes to support them. This is not even a purely partisan thing, as anyone who truly understands business would acknowledge. What sense does it make to limit the growth and expansion of a successful industry that creates thousands of jobs and that generates significant tax revenues for the states and federal government? Where would McDonald’s be if limited to 2,000 hamburgers per day? Or Texaco if limited to 2,000 gas pumps? Conservative Representative and candidate, Tom McClintlock is a tribal friend as well, for clearly understanding Indian freedom from state and federal interference. It bears repeating that McClintlock calls Indian reservations “islands of freedom,” and that proper understandings on Native issues often cross the great American ideological divide.
Finally, Fund goes after the Democratic plan to impose a hefty tax increase on cigarettes. This too will help the tribes, who now will likely sell more tobacco products. But it is in his assumption that tribal lobbying for a bill to protect sacred sites will be nothing more than an “Indian shakedown” that Fund crosses the line. The tribes (pray for it), would have a voice over development within five miles of sensitive sacred areas.
Of course, the notion cannot be countenanced by Fund’s crowd that tribes might be serious and in demand of basic respect in regards to sacred sites and ceremonial places. No, everything about the tribes must be painted as “sleazy,” “unseemly,” “tainted,” and so on. These guys are trying to find the jugular. They haven’t hit it yet. But they sure are trying.
To Indian leadership we say this. Our ancestors have experienced similar tactics and attacks many times throughout our history. Honor them by acting with the utmost vigilance and mobilize now to address these imminent threats. Running deep within the dark passages of the American Indian experience – beyond the campaigns of death (to which California’s Natives can fully attest) and the thefts of Indian assets and beyond the blankets infested with smallpox and the coerced religious conversions – it must be understood that foreshadowing each successive wave has been an American blanket of lies.
