Darian-Smith, Eve : University of California, Santa Barbara
Summary
This case study examines the impact of casino gaming on Native American reservations, and also explores why
the idea of "rich Indians" and their participation in corporate America disrupts dominant assumptions
and attitudes about indigenous peoples, their cultural authenticity, and their place in mainstream urban society.
Taking an anthropological approach to studying gaming on Indian reservations, the case study explores the implications
and challenges of historically marginalized peoples now participating in a corporate entertainment industry. The
study also raises broader questions about the nature of capitalism and the enduring stability of predominant cultural
constructs about Indians that have dominated the country's political and economic arenas. The impact of Indian
gaming in the United States is discussed against a backdrop of globalization and other capitalist endeavors by
native peoples in Canada and Australia who are increasingly demanding greater rights to participate in the formal
institutions and governments of modern western societies. The book aims to: 1. Introduce students to the legal,
political, economic and cultural tensions surrounding casino operations on Native American reservations. 2. Explore
why gaming has become such a politically and emotionally charged issue. 3. Emphasize how these tensions existing
between Indian and non-Indian communities are representative of wider cultural conflicts and identity politics
increasingly confronting many countries.
Benefits:
This is a highly relevant and important topic in understanding contemporary Native American issues.
Laws regarding casinos on reservations are now significant in mainstream party politics.
The text is written in a very accessible style, designed to stimulate discussion and critical thinking.
Table of Contents
Introduction.
1. Europeans in the New World and Enduring Western Stereotypes of Native Americans.
2. Law and the Management of Native Americans.
3. The History of Indian Gaming in the United States.
4. The Case of the Chumash Indian Casino Expansion Project.
5. Rich Indians, New Capitalists.
6. Local Implications, Global Connections.
Appendix A: Answers to Common Questions about Tribal Government Gaming.
Appendix B: Internet Resources on Native Americans and Tribal Gaming.