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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 2007)
More News from Indian Country P3.e10 Spily3yTymoo Mjreh2007 Nebraska tribe leads American Indian business diversification W IN N EBA GO , Neb. (AP) - Rising from the bluffs o f east ern Nebraska, on the sparsely populated, historically poor Winnebago Indian reservation, stands a glass-paneled office building. The out-of-place structure is home to Ho-Chunk Inc., a $100 million business with more than 500 employees in six states, Mexico, Iraq and Afghanistan. Ho-Chunk, the economic de v elo p m en t arm of the Winnebago Tribe, is similarly rem arkable in the world o f American Indian business, be cause its success has little to do with gambling _ besides getting seed money from casino rev enue. Em ployees o f one o f the company's 16 subsidiaries pose as civilians on faux battlefields in Indiana so U.S. soldiers can hone their combat instincts. A Ho-Chunk subsidiary in Mexico provides technical sup port for a new DN A laboratory used in criminal cases. And since 2005, Ho-Chunk subsidiary All Native Systems has had a mul timillion dollar contract with the U.S. State Department to pro vide support for rebuilding Iraq's governmental infrastruc ture. Ho-Chunk, derived from a Winnebago term that translates to “The People,” is trying to end the cycle o f poverty that has plagued many reservations for hundreds of years. In Winnebago, median household income is around $20,000 and more than 40 percent o f people don't make enough to live above the federal poverty line. “It's not like we're a rich tribe,” said H o-Chunk C E O Lance Morgan. “We're just one o f the best o f the poor tribes.” Ho-Chunk is part o f a grow ing trend o f diversification by American Indian tribes. Casino revenue is inherently unstable in many states. Con tracts must be renegotiated with each new governor, legal fights over casino issues drain income from tribal budgets and legalized gambling in some states brings new competition. “Tribes are finding that gam ing, while it's been successful for many, it's not the only answer,” said Kip Ritchie, a vice president o f the economic development arm o f the F o re st C ounty Potawatomi Community in Wis consin and touts a portfolio o f investments and assets o f more than $26 million. H o-C h u n k and the Winnebagos are ahead o f the game when it comes to sustain ing a diversified economy, said Prof. Joseph Kalt, co-director o f the Harvard Project on Ameri can Indian Economic Develop ment. “All these tribes are very much like emerging democracies and developing countries around the world,” he said. Tribes across the country are at different stages o f success in d iv e rsifica tio n , said P eter Homer, president o f the Na tional Indian Business Associa tion. “We are changing a culture that is a very giving culture into a hard-knocking, business-think ing,” H om er said. “We were horse traders. We never were used to m aking m oney and sticking it in our pocket.” U.S. tribes now have more than $22 billion in annual rev enues from gambling, according to government figures. But casino profits deflated for the Winnebago Tribe after a 1994 Iowa law allowed casi nos to be built just across the river from Omaha, a l l / 2-hour drive from the Winnebago res ervation. Fortunately, tribal members took $8 million in casino money in 1994 and 1995 and put it to ward a new venture. Ho-Chunk started out with what Morgan calls "stereotypi cal Indian business," tobacco and gasoline. It started companies to serve primarily tribal members, then branched out once they were established. The company learned how to obtain federal grants and low-interest loans by taking advantage o f its tribal status, setting a model for other tribes to follow. Ho-Chuck posted revenues o f $111.3 million in 2005, up from $22.9 million in 2000, and assets have grown to $39.8 mil lion from $8 million. It recorded nearly $691,000 in net profits in 2005. Ho-Chunk's board o f direc tors acts independently o f the tribal co u n cil, w hich keeps short-term political ups and downs from stop p ing H o- Chunk's progress, said Jo h n Blackhawk, who serves on the tribal council. Balancing distance with help- ing people is a problem for some tribes, Kalt said. American In dians in poor communities see for the first time a chance at income — and it's hard to con vince them that money gener ated must be reinvested. To help maintain the balance, Ho-Chunk helped start the Ho- Chunk Community D evelop ment Corp., a nonprofit group that has raised $11 million since it was founded in 2000 to help improve the Winnebago reser vation. The group's biggest project has been Ho-Chunk Village, a development northeast o f town. A homey village square sur rounds a sculpture garden filled with 12 statues representing the original clans o f the Winnebago Tribe. A hair salon, art studio, Dollar General store, and an Indian gift store are mixed with the headquarters o f several o f Ho-Chunk's businesses. Walking trails lead through the village and, along with new roads, con nect the houses. Ho-Chunk wants to keep lur ing tribal members with a col lege education and disposable income to Winnebago. But those people, while unlikely to qualify for welfare assistance, still don't have the savings to buy a house. So the homes are sold at low interest rates with down payment assistance for tribal members, some o f whom have never be fore owned ,a home. The key to pulling Winnebago out o f poverty is to keep young people from fleeing the reser vation, Ho-Chunk leaders say. Judge dismisses arguments by casino opponents G R A N D R A P ID S , M ich. (AP) _ A federal judge dismissed arguments by opponents o f a proposed Indian casino in south west Michigan, bringing the 304- member Gun Lake tribe a step closer to developing the project. U.S. District Judge John Penn in Washington ruled late Friday in favor o f the Department o f the Interior, which intends to take 146 acres in A llegan County's Wayland Township into trust for the casino. Michigan Gambling Opposi tion sued in 2005 to block the governm ent from taking the land into tmst. Penn ruled Fri day that the anti-casino group "h a s raised no genuine issues o f material fact." Gun Lake officials said they expected an appeal, but called Penn's ruling a significant step, T he Grand Rapids Press re ported Saturday. Once the land is in trust, the tribe can proceed with its plans to build the casino. “This decision is a cause for great celebration, both for the tribe and the people o f West Michigan who dream o f eco nomic opportunities and good paying jobs with great benefits,” D.K. Sprague, tribal chairman, said in a statement. Tribe may build bridge across Salt River SCO TTSDA LE, Am. (AP) - T he F o rt M cDow ell Yavapai Nation is looking at the possi bility o f constructing a bridge across the Salt River that would connect the Bush and Beeline highways. Although no plans have been committed to paper, the pro spective site o f the bridge is near the intersection o f the Bush Sanders For instance, he said, the Warm Springs Elementary School has improved drasti cally as a result o f tireless work on the part o f the staff. “We came from a school district that was in last place in the state o f O reg o n ,” Sanders said. Now, however, the school meets the states academic standards but is still lacking in terms o f attendance. A ccording to Sanders, “Because o f the cultural di versity in our community, attendance does play a sig n ific a n t part in why we haven’t m et that standard Highway and Usery Pass Road, across the river to State Route 87, also known as the Beeline Highway. The bridge would ease the commute o f people who work on the Indian Community, said P h il D o rch e ste r, F o rt McDowell's acting general man ager. It also would make it easier for Fort McDowell's casino, res taurants and g o lf course to draw from the wealth o f east Mesa. I f the F o rt M cD ow ell Yavapai Nation is serious about this bridge, its next step is to help pay for a feasibility study done by Maricopa County. Such a study would cost $150,000, with the county paying half. yet.” Sanders insists he is only a small fraction o f the work be ing done by various organiza tions in Warm Springs and in Jefferson County— but all have the same goal o f prom oting educations. “It’s the collective effort o f all o f us that deal with educa tion in the Warm Springs com munity,” he said. Sanders also dedicates his time to the local Alcohol and Drug Council. Focusing on problems like alcohol and drugs, he said, is one way o f fixing a much larger problem that involves issues like domestic violence and crime. “Alcohol and drugs are not the problem,” he explained. “It’s a symptom o f a problem.” For now, Sanders can rattle o ff a list o f dates and places he will be traveling to in the near future. In his opinion, it’s all part o f how he chooses to give back to a community that has given to him. “There’s an obligation that I have to give back to the community,” Sanders said. “I ’m very grateful to my boss, Jody Calica, who has allowed me to participate with these things,” he added. As for his constant work w ith e d u ca tio n , Sanders said, “I t ’s a good fit for people who really want to do this.” A message seeking comment from Michigan Gambling Op position was left Saturday night at the group's office in Moline. The tribe has estimated the casino will create 1,800 direct jobs and 3,100 indirect jobs while providing it with millions o f dollars for education, housing, elder care, cultural preservation and other services. Next deadline to submit items for publication in the Spilyay is Friday, March 9. Thank you. --------------------------------------------- J Old Elk remembered for commitment, sense of humor CROW AGENCY, Mont. (AP) - Crow Tribal Secretary Andrew Old Elk was remembered last week as a well-edu cated man who valued his culture and wanted prosperity for his tribe. Old Elk, who devoted much o f his career to natural re sources and their development on the reservation, died Sun day at a Billings hospital after a heart attack. He was 62. “Hopefully we can continue his dreams and aspirations for the tribe,” Tribal Chairman Carl Venne said to the esti mated 800 people gathered. Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger was among those in attendance, along with numerous dignitaries from federal and state agen cies and tribal governments. Bohlinger called Old Elk a great leader who was well- known throughout the state. He said Old Elk's humor leaves a “rich legacy.” “We all need to live with a sense o f hope, and that sense o f hope is often found in a sense o f humor,” Bohlinger said. Several speakers shared stories about Old Elk's humor and how it was his way o f showing compassion and teaching people. Many also spoke o f the value he placed on education. Old Elk graduated from Haskell Institute in Kansas in 1963, and he went on to earn two associate's degrees, a bachelor's degree and a master's degree. Old Elk's death leaves vacant the tribe's secretary posi tion. Out o f respect, Venne said he waited to begin the elec tion process to fill the position. Old Elk was elected Nov. 6, 2004. His term was to run through 2008. The Crow Tribal Constitution requires that Venne de clare the office vacant. That begins a filing period for candi dates. An election will be held within 60 days. I f more than two candidates file, a primary election will be held, Venne said. Old Elk is survived by his wife, a daughter and three sons. He was preceded in death by a son. Bill to protect archaelogical sites P IE R R E , S.D. (AP) — A bill that would make it difficult for treasure hunters and looters to raid ancestral burial grounds and other significant archaeological sites in South Dakota received unanimous approval last week in the state Senate. H B1286 was passed earlier by the House but must be returned for review because o f some Senate changes. Sen. Ed Olson, R-Mitchell, said the bill would seal state records that show the locations o f archaeological sites. He said federal law protects such sites on federal property, and the bill would extend that protection to archaeological sites on private property and land owned by the state. I f there is a legitimate need to see the records, such as making sure the path is clear for highway construction, the state archae ologist can release the records on a case-by-case basis, Olson said. WkrmSprings Mfckeit; P . Indian Ar($ Snd Cr&fis 2132 Wkrm Springs St Vkrm Springs, 02 $7761 ________ 732 SW 6th St., at the “ Y ” in R edm ond Desks, Living Room, Dining FREE Room, Tables, Lamps, Bk [L Jrilg,. I DELIVERY Recliners, Mattresses, Bedroom, Daybeds, to MOST Sleepers, Bunk Beds, Central Oregon '1 w Leather, Entertainment areas. Centers, and MORE! y L£ m . 1' / wè Open 7 Days a week 10-6 Mon.-Sat. 11-5 Sun. HOME FURNISHINGS - REDMOND Locally Owned & Operated since 1980 923*-4155 your 'favorite fióme 'furnishings 'for
