11/10/22
Federal Perspective Shield the Indian Tribe from organized crime and other corrupting influences Ensure that the Indian Tribe is the prime beneficiary of the gamin operation Assure that gaming is conducted fairly and honestly by both the operators and the players
Tribal Perspective Realize fullest measure of tribal sovereignty Improve the quality of life and standard of living of the tribal community Create jobs and business opportunities Protect tribal resources – both human and natural Preserve tribal identity and cultural existence for future generations
What Purpose is Served by the Regulation of Tribal Gaming?
3
I want to tell the Committee about a young Choctaw man, only 37 years old. He got sick and needed a new kidney, but they told him at the hospital it would cost $250,000 and they wouldn’t do it unless he could put up at least half of the money. When we heard about it, we gave him the money out of our gaming account. The trouble was that we didn’t get all the right approvals from the Tribal Council, so we went back to Council to get their approval of what we did. The Council listened and when we got through, you know what they did? They enacted an ordinance that authorized me to spend the gaming money anytime a tribal member needs a transplant. They said from now on, no Choctaw will ever again die for lack of money.
This is what the gaming means to us.
Paraphrased from Testimony of Choctaw Nation Principal Chief Greg Pyle before the House Resources Committee on NIGC’s proposed Class II regulations, February 20, 2008, Miami, Oklahoma.
4
2
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs