I can understand why the two mentioned tribes would be opposed to the opening of a new casino in their general area, especially since it is in a location that could potentially compete for the same clientele that visit their facilities. However, the truth is that those tribes which already have gaming... very successful gaming, at that... do not provide assistance to the non-gaming tribes in their areas. In fact, many of the new compacts being negotiated between the tribes and the state do not even pay into the Revenue Sharing Fund that has provided some relief to the non-gaming tribes of the state. At many of the joint tribal meetings in the state, the attitude of the gaming tribes vs. the non-gaming tribes has been somewhat disdainful. But we non-gaming tribal people were fully behind ALL of the gaming tribes, back when Prop 5 and Prop 1A were being voted on. We walked in support, talked in support, handed out literature in support, and wore T-shirts to show our support. How soon we forget.

Many of California's tribes are in areas that cannot be developed, for various reasons. It might be because there is not enough land, or land that has no water, or land which has no paved road to reach it. Have the gaming tribes reached out to their little brothers and sisters, who are still struggling to survive? Often, the gaming tribes pay out huge per capita payments to their members... They do not pay per capita to non-gaming tribal members. We are still out here, with poor health care, substandard housing, and high unemployment. It is hard to understand what we've done wrong... Why are our cousins more worthy than we are? Why is it that there is no money to provide some basic services... Why was it that our cousin chose to end his dialysis treatment... because he had to travel many hours 3 times per week, from Covelo to Ukiah, and he was just tired. He lasted about a month before he finally died. There are still Indian people in Covelo making that trip 3 times a week, but there is no money for a dialysis clinic in Covelo.

If the playing field had been level... if all tribes had an equal chance, I could accept the "no off-reservation" edict. But the vast majority of California tribes and Indians are still left behind in the dust. And now... our own cousins, who are members of some of these fabulously wealthy tribes... do not want to see other tribes have a chance to better themselves, to find solutions for their members, to have the same chance that once THEY lacked. And yet, we must watch while our cousins have 3-4-5 new cars in their driveways, are jetting off all over the country, and even around the world... I've never begrudged them their good fortune. It's about time something good happened for Indians, I've always thought. There are those who hate it... such as a woman who runs an organization in the state who is constantly speaking out against Indian gaming. She claims she's just against gaming in general... even claims to support "Gambler's Anonymous," but she does her best to find any tiny piece of dirt in Indian Country that is happening, and then she broadcasts it in her little online newsletter she sends out. That reeks of racism, if you ask me. It was okay if non-Indians had success... No one was concerned about Las Vegas, Tahoe, and Reno, and the non-Indians who grew wealthy off of gaming... But when the Indians began to have success? Bad Indians!

So, give us a break. Many of the Indian casinos in California barely break even... some provide a few jobs, that's about it. But the ones that get the noise are those who've had the good fortune to be in a location that was advantageous to them. They've brought tremendous wealth to their people, and given the tribes opportunities to diversify. The old adage that "It takes money to make money" is true. But the larger portion of California Native People are still suffering from the highest rates of unemployment, serious health-care problems, highest dropout rates, highest suicide rates... We are still a forgotten people, and it feels even worse to know that we are pitted against our own, now.

Senator Feinstein... if you oppose off-reservation gaming, then what solutions do you offer the non-gaming tribes? How do you address the inequity of location? What are you doing to address our healthcare problems, or our unemployment problems? Do you even realize that we're out here, or do you even care? Do ANY of the elected officials care about the rest of us, those who do not have any money to lobby you, or get your attention, or donate to your campaigns? Does anybody care what happens our here in California Indian country?

What would happen if Gov. Brown told Table mountain and Chuckchansi. Let back in all your disenrolled members back in and have an open enrollment. Then, we will not allow off reservation gaming. I bet these tribes do not want to share their profits.