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Minnesota Tribes Oppose Reopening Gambling Compacts

MINNESOTA – As reported by the Minnesota Public Radio: "No one was expecting what Gov. Pawlenty said at the end of his State of the State address last month.

"'We need to recognize that times have changed. The compacts negotiated with the American Indian tribes almost 15 years ago do not reflect current circumstances, and we need to address the issue,' Pawlenty said. 'My preference is to keep gaming within its current contours. But we need to explore a better deal for Minnesotans. And that's what we're going to do.'

"Those words caught a lot of people by surprise, including state lawmakers, some of the governor's fellow Republicans, and Indian leaders across the state.

"Darrell Seki, tribal treasurer on the Red Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota, suspects the governor wants a piece of the gaming pie. But Seki says a deal is a deal.

"…Casino gambling hasn't made anyone rich at Red Lake. Most of the customers at the casino in the reservation's largest community are tribal members. That's because the isolated location doesn't attract many visitors.

"Red Lake's gaming revenues have paid for some infrastructure improvements on the reservation. There are now programs for kids and the elderly. But mostly, casinos have created more than 600 jobs in a region that's struggled with high unemployment.

"…About 65 percent of Indians live in northern Minnesota, while the vast majority of Indian gaming dollars are earned by two small tribes in the Twin Cities metro area.

"…Tribal Chairman Pete White says the best thing gaming has done for his people is provide about 1,000 new jobs. White says he's suspicious of Gov. Pawlenty's intentions.

"'Look at the history,' said White. 'Every time there's something that's worth something within the Indian people, it gets taken. And it's something that I just don't understand.'

"White says he staunchly opposes reopening the compacts. Every tribe in the state agrees.

"Minnesota was the first state in the country to reach a contract with Indian tribes over Indian-run casinos…"

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