In New Capitalists: Law, Politics, and Identity Surrounding Casino Gaming on Native American Land, Eve Darian-Smith dives in and explicitly discusses the contemporary social issue in regards to Indian versus non-Indian oppositions about the growth of Indian reservation casinos. She begins by explaining the ill treatment of Native Americans in the United States from the time when Columbus came to shore and proceeds to explain how this led to their handling and stereotyping by the non-Indian population. To this day, the assumptions made about Native Americans contribute to non-Indian opinions about the development of casinos on Indian reservations and reflect different views on Indian gaming and its expansion as well as capitalist ideals. Mostly
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Not only is knowledge a factor, but also fear and/or apprehension as well. It was debated that gambling would bring crime to not only the reservations, but to the proximity of non-Indian land. Despite this, it should not be forgotten what may or may not have influenced this opposition in the first place. The opposition of Indian gaming is affected by the old stereotypes and/or prejudices of Native Americans. Early European arrival to the United States (known then as the New World) seemed to be the start of Native Americans being undermined. Upon landing, Christopher Columbus thought he had come across an Indian subcontinent and called the indigenous people he had seen Indians. Such a generic term like Indian “mask[s] the extraordinary complexity and diversity that exist[s] among different peoples living across vast continents” (Darian-Smith 18). In other words, the term degrades what Native American people are not only as individuals but also as an established ethnic group. At first, not all Europeans had such hostile and negative opinions about Native Americans. But as social relations and cultural interactions differentiated, Native Americans were thought to be “wild people, apelike or childlike, little more than savages or beasts…”(Darian-Smith 21). Non-Indians feel that Native Americans …show more content…
There is no doubt that there are many other ways that Native Americans can make money. However, old stereotypes and prejudices have created fictional boundaries in to which Native Americans are confined. For example, casinos have allowed the creation of “Indian capitalism” and this is outside the set boundaries non-Indian people have made. These current opponents of Indian gaming have wrongly used this concept to claim their opposition as correct. I do believe that in this given day and time, the only realistic way that Native Americans can be self-supporting and successful is through Indian gaming. The outside world has had its impact and has held Native Americans back both in achievement and development. It seemed to be almost like a last resort, and the only way they could finally be recognized as self-supporting individuals and groups. As tribe member Catherine Saubel said “…we’ve never had justice…Now we have a little justice…” (as cited in Darian-Smith
Not only is knowledge a factor, but also fear and/or apprehension as well. It was debated that gambling would bring crime to not only the reservations, but to the proximity of non-Indian land. Despite this, it should not be forgotten what may or may not have influenced this opposition in the first place. The opposition of Indian gaming is affected by the old stereotypes and/or prejudices of Native Americans. Early European arrival to the United States (known then as the New World) seemed to be the start of Native Americans being undermined. Upon landing, Christopher Columbus thought he had come across an Indian subcontinent and called the indigenous people he had seen Indians. Such a generic term like Indian “mask[s] the extraordinary complexity and diversity that exist[s] among different peoples living across vast continents” (Darian-Smith 18). In other words, the term degrades what Native American people are not only as individuals but also as an established ethnic group. At first, not all Europeans had such hostile and negative opinions about Native Americans. But as social relations and cultural interactions differentiated, Native Americans were thought to be “wild people, apelike or childlike, little more than savages or beasts…”(Darian-Smith 21). Non-Indians feel that Native Americans …show more content…
There is no doubt that there are many other ways that Native Americans can make money. However, old stereotypes and prejudices have created fictional boundaries in to which Native Americans are confined. For example, casinos have allowed the creation of “Indian capitalism” and this is outside the set boundaries non-Indian people have made. These current opponents of Indian gaming have wrongly used this concept to claim their opposition as correct. I do believe that in this given day and time, the only realistic way that Native Americans can be self-supporting and successful is through Indian gaming. The outside world has had its impact and has held Native Americans back both in achievement and development. It seemed to be almost like a last resort, and the only way they could finally be recognized as self-supporting individuals and groups. As tribe member Catherine Saubel said “…we’ve never had justice…Now we have a little justice…” (as cited in Darian-Smith