Native leaders want national gaming body

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Delegates from across Canada gathered in Prince Albert, Sask. for three days in early August to come up with a plan to create a national First Nations' gaming association.

All delegates received a 10-page draft proposal providing ideas on how to develop the association to take back to their communities for discussion.

The conference chairperson, Assembly of First Nations Vice-Chief Mary Jane Jim from the Chapaynajak First Nation, Yukon, asked the delegates to review the proposal, saying the AFN executive wants to be sure that "we have clear direction to proceed on a national strategy."

"In October, we held a first meeting of those First Nations who would be interested in a gaming strategy. We came together in Saskatoon, and we had five recommendations from that gathering, and essentially, one of the recommendations was to proceed to establish a national association. Basically, you want a national association so you have consistency in regulations, that you have some principle gaming strategy, and that you set up some principles with respect to First Nations gaming," Jim said.

"We're basically asking people to provide feedback, some input, some ideas and suggestions," said Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Grand Chief Perry Bellegarde.

To sum up the hopes and dreams of all the people in attendance, Buddy Gwin spoke to the delegates about his people, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. Its traditional land lies in what is presently known as the New England region of the United States, but at one point, the group came close to being wiped out by illness and ill-treatment by the United States government. Members were shuffled from one small piece of reservation land to the other, and the land itself was poor for growing and hunting.

When there were only two of the Elders left, the government thought it could take the reservation land away. The government was mistaken, and the land remained the property of the Pequot people. Eventually, the piece of land became the site of the Foxwoods Resort Casino, which is now the largest casino in the world.

"Indian tribes, individually, can't get five minutes with any of the senators or congressmen," said Milo Yellowhair, chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association in the United States. "Once we had the trade association, in which all the tribes ran it together, we were able to access that five minutes, and usually, it's a very critical five minutes that we need with these people in order to affect our daily lives. So it's important to have a trade association. I think that's why it's imperative that Indian nations get together at this level."

Assembly of First Nations Chief Matthew Coon Come attended the conference. He noted that success stories from south of the 49th parallel can guide First Nations in Canada.

"I think (the American) situation is no different from ours, but they took the initiative," he said. "They went and just asserted their rights and just did it and then challenged their governments."

This was one objective that many of the delegates and political leaders agreed upon at the conference. Unity is needed to be effective.

"Canada always seems to be 10 years behind the States," said Coon Come. "I think they're setting the pace and I think some of the First Nations here will give us an opportunity to share and see how we can learn from them and be able to work together."

First Nations leaders seem to be unanimous in their belief that a united front is required if their people are to secure the same kind of opportunities that have benefited U.S. tribes.

"If we're going to find options, respecting and regarding First Nations' jurisdiction over gaming, we do need a national collective political and legal strategy," said FSIN Chief Perry Bellegarde. "So the best way to do that is through some sort of a formal organization on gaming."

Lawrence Joseph, FSIN vice-chief and one of the three co-chairmen at the conference, also understands the ned for unity.

"There's a strong need for that because of the strength that you get from numbers," said Joseph. "I think today, I walk away from this feeling very much encouraged and strengthened. Also, from the statements that were made, we have to unify and also organize to address this important and very exciting issue."

Another co-chairman of the conference was Ted Williams, vice president of human resources and corporate affairs at Casino Rama in Ontario. He understands the jurisdictional issues surrounding the industry.

"The jurisdictions that we're talking about, that whole issue of jurisdiction, is very key to be able to implement our vision of what needs to take place in gaming in the Native community," said Williams. "We're more than willing to sit down and discuss that, whether it's with the provinces and or the federal government . . . not to mention the fact that it will bring the Native community together for the purpose of development of our resources in our own home communities.