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Originally Posted by RedState
I have no idea.
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That's perfectly legitimate. Sometimes we have questions without answers or knowledge of where the question will lead. I think these are the best questions (or assertions that lead to questions) because they provide the most room for exercise of the gray matter.
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I do know that those casinos employ a large number of people that don't live in on the reservations.
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This is accurate. Through conversations I've had with members of several different tribes, this is a complex issue. There are some members of the tribe who help administrate the casinos. There are even many tribal members who work at the casino. However much of the staff are either not members of the tribe entirely, or are tribal members who live off of the reservation.
Obviously we must exclude the non-members from the conversation at this point because they are not part of the conversation on culture. So let's move the tribal members who live off of reservation. It is virtually impossible for these members to keep their tribal identity/culture as they live in an environment that rejects the fundamental beliefs of the tribe. Do they benefit from the casino? Sure. Jobs and benefits associated with such jobs. Just like any other worker.
But the really important part is the members who do not work at the casino and live on reservation. Many, if not most of these individuals try to maintain traditional customs and live as their ancestors did. The revenues from the casino go to help with the administration and operation of the reservation. But unlike a city or a state, the reservation does not have the tax base to support itself. So the profits from the casino act as taxes. So they pay for tribal police, tribal education, etc... Just as in a city or state.
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I don't know about all the benefits and stuff that they get and frankly, I never considered Indians anything but Americans which is why i find it unnerving when I find out a group of people that I consider Americans live in such poverty as the Lakota do.
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I think it's complicated when talking about "poverty" and using an Anglicized understanding of the word. But yes, the standard of living on reservation is minimal in comparison to the outside world.
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Theres more than enough wealth in this nation for everyone to live well. But it seems the more I find the more I realize that things arent working out like we were all taught they should be here in the land of opportunity.
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Idealism vs. Reality bites us in the ass every time.