Tribes warned of bad with the casino good

Tuesday, Nov. 26, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo., said Indian gaming has grown into a $27 billion a year industry since its inception in 1988.

"It's created new wealth for people who have been destitute," Campbell said during a keynote speech Monday to about 400 people attending the Western Indian Gaming Conference at the Silver Legacy Resort and Eldorado hotel-casino.

But Campbell said there is a "dark side" emerging from gambling on Indian lands that tribal leaders must heed as a warning.

Because of the big money that casinos generate, there is increasing controversy over who is entitled to share in the wealth, and more and more people are trying to enroll as tribal members.

"Suddenly, because of the casino issue, they want to be enrolled," Campbell said. "We're getting a lot of new Indians."

But that divides the pie of income, and the decision of how to draw the line has "pitted brothers against brothers," he said.

Another disturbing occurrence, Campbell said, is the "noticeable white backlash," particularly against the suddenly wealthy Indian youngsters in rural areas.

"When I see kids ... come to a small rural school with $100 bills in their pockets ... believe me, it creates some problems in the community," Campbell said.

"We need to make sure our kids don't lose their way with the greenbacks," he said.

Campbell added there appears to be an increasing sentiment among some Indian children that they do not need to further their education or go to college because of the entitlement they receive from Indian casinos.

"All those things are little red flags for me," he said. "We are going to end up with a hibernating culture.

"We cannot lose sight of traditional values," he warned.

The conference, which concludes today, is a collaboration of the California-Nevada Indian Gaming Association and the Northwest Alliance of Gaming Tribes.