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.
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