“Pueblo of Laguna Flag.” Infobase, Facts On File. American Indian History, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=18626&itemid=WE43&iid=281098. Accessed 20 Sept. 2024.

“Pueblo of Acoma Flag.” Infobase, Facts On File. American Indian History, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=18626&itemid=WE43&iid=202411. Accessed 20 Sept. 2024.

Tribal Gaming: The Impact on Native American Communities

Ambroshia Lilly~Anne Trujillo

Pueblos of Laguna & Acoma

Trujillo, Ambie. Personal Collection. February 15, 2025

Ambrosia Trujillo.webm

Personal Connection

As for my SHP topic, I’ve gotten inspiration from the man himself, my dad. He is the Pueblo of Tesuque Executive Director for Tribal Gaming and works for the state of New Mexico and California. Engages with all pueblos within NM and out of NM. Has made a big impact for each pueblo he’s worked with and has been acknowledged for all the work he’s done. My dad has taught me a lot at a very young age and still does. He’s been there for me, my sisters, and especially for my mom when she fought for her and my life at a very young age. He loves and accepts everyone he meets. My dad knows how and what people go through. He also knows and understands my self esteem and knows the struggles I go through everyday. From the perspective of my dad, he is a very busy man and sacrifices so much for me, my sisters, and my mom to be able to be satisfied with what we want. He works very hard for me and my sisters so that we can have a roof over our heads and no matter how tired he is, he will come to our calls. Even though he gives me a hard time, lectures me, expects more and the best from me, I still love him no matter what the circumstances are. All his lectures teach me a life lesson and make me reflect on my own actions. I am very blessed to have him as my dad, who’s been a father figure in my life for the past 14 years. I know he may not be my dad biologically, but he’s never given up on me from the day me and him met.

Identity

Sharing One Skin

Okanagan Community

Jeanette Armstrong

Trujillo, Ambie. Padilla, Denisha. "Lost in Nature". June 10, 2024

We all have a different personalities and identities that describes us as explained in the article, “Sharing One Skin,” by Jeanette Armstrong she shares about the Okanagan culture and how in their way the four selves mean to them. In the article “Sharing One Skin”, Armstrong mentions not just herself but introduces her parents and grandparents who are a part of the Okanagan Community. As for the Okanagan Community, they have a descriptive and meaningful way of describing themselves as a whole or as one individual. The Physical self depends on the parts of us that exist beyond the skin. The Emotional self is differentiated from the physical self, the thinking intellectual self, and the spiritual self. The Thinking-intellectual self is another capacity we engage in when we take action that leads up to a spark in our memory core once ignited. Lastly, the Spiritual self refers to parts of the individual being and the larger self of which all things are part. We all have a personal self that makes us our identity. “The unseen part of our existence as human beings.” (pg 461-62) The four selves reflect on our personality and what makes us who we are.

Armstrong, Jeanette. “Sharing One Skin: The Okanagan Community,” in Jerry Mander and Edward Goldsmith (eds), The Case Against the Global Economy. San Francisco, CA, Sierra Club Books, 1996. Pp 460-470.

How Place Names Impact The Way We See Landscape

B. Tsosie

Trujillo, Ambie. "After the Storm" Sept 16, 2024

Memories and stories are connected to our land, as B. Tsosie desired in the article “How place names impact the way we see landscape.” Landscapes have meaningful names because they orient to their “meaning within the community mind.” Toastie mentions the topography of sacred landscapes overlaid with mythical events during creation.

The landscapes built on tribal land are sacred to all Native American communities from where they come from and how the landscape was established on their tribal land. “It supports and is supported by the community of the land’s ancient people. We unnamed things oftentimes because of a distinct feature in the land.” (Tohe, pg 4) Another quote from the article says, “When you call a place by its sacred name, you are in a sense using transformation.” (Tohe, pg 7)

Toastie, B. “How place names impact the way we see landscape.” High Country News: Know the West, 1 May 2022, https://www.hcn.org/issues/54.5/people-places-how-place-names-impact- the-way-we-see-landscape.

And I Went to School

Joe Suina

“Boarding School for Native Americans.” Denver Public Library, Facts On File. American Indian History, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=18626&itemid=WE43&iid=121358. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

“And I Went to School" by Joe Suina, is about the author's personal life, and how it changed suddenly when he was forced to go to a different school. A point in his life started when he felt guilty about choosing the white man's world rather than his pueblo life. Towards the end of the article, I noticed in the beginning he usually wouldn’t complain about the way he lived and didn’t have any complaints about how his personality was, until he started becoming more mature and clean about his lifestyle and how he lived. Joe started catching and getting used to the actions of the white people’s world and soon regretted his choices. “Still the two worlds were very different and the demands of others were ever present.” (Suina pg, 4)

Suina, Joseph “And I went to school” memories of a pueblo childhood,”. New Mexico Journal of Reading, Winter 1985, Vol. V, No.2.

History

Tribal Gaming in New Mexico: Rebuilding Independent Relationships

Scott A. Riley

John K. Hillers. “Laguna Pueblo.” National Archives and Records Administration, Facts On File. American Indian History, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=18626&itemid=WE43&iid=34880. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Building relations with our community is a huge part of Indigenous people reconnecting with our traditions, culture, and economy. “Tribal Gaming in New Mexico: Rebuilding Independent Relationships” written by Scott A. Riley, shares how Tribal Gaming started in New Mexico. Riley mentions that Tribal gaming has been the only beneficial way for the success of gaming tribes. In NM, the gaming industry is divided between gaming and non-gaming tribes. Non-gaming tribes are involved in the gaming industry because they impact the social and economic industry. The Gaming tribes take part in communities and practice ideals of self-determination. “To advocate, foster, protect and encourage the social, cultural, and traditional well-being of our Pueblo Nations, Through our inherent and sovereign rights, we will promote language, health, economic, and educational advancement of all Pueblo people.” (All-Pueblo Council of Governors pg, 4)

Riley, Scott A., editor. “Tribal Gaming in New Mexico: Rebuilding Independent Relationships.” May 16, 2021, p. 12.

Tribal Gaming Leader Strategies Toward a Sustainable Future

Janie Hall

Instead of knowing that tribal gaming is about slot machines and bingo, there have to be strategies and plans for tribal gaming. As I read “Tribal Gaming Leader Strategies toward a Sustainable Future” by Janie Hall is the Oklahoma Gaming Act and how this court operated economic development, organizations, and general welfare for communities. Hall mentions the emotional self but in the Tribal gaming area. Emotional intelligence means to Tribal leaders that it's a common leadership strategy used in organizations. It's the capability to manage the emotions of one’s self, others, and groups. Organizational leaders maintain complexity, collaborate, for organizational change, and engage in emotional intelligence. It's all about understanding and managing emotions, both your own and others, within the gaming community. Building better relationships, resolving conflicts, and creating a positive environment.

Hall, Janie A., et al. "Tribal Gaming Leader Strategies toward a Sustainable Future." The Qualitative Report, vol. 24, no. 4, Apr. 2019, pp. 887+. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A588342538/AONE?u=nm_s_santafeis&sid=ebsco&xid=eb0b08bc.

Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.

“Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians: Contemporary Location.” Infobase, Facts On File. American Indian History, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=18626&itemid=WE43&iid=281154. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Indian Gaming

Deborah Welch

Waldman, Carl. “Seneca.” Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes, Fourth Edition, Facts On File, 2022. American Indian History, online.infobase.com/Auth/Indexaid=18626&itemid=WE43&articleId=191090

As for the struggles the gaming community has, “Indian Gaming” by Deborah Welch is about the struggles of Natives supporting Tribal gaming but the relations between natives and non-natives. Natives supporting Tribal Gaming faced several struggles. The major challenge was overcoming legal and political obstacles, as many state governments initially opposed the establishment of Tribal casinos. Additionally, there were internal community conflicts regarding the potential impacts on traditional values and culture. Economic disparities also posed a challenge, as not all tribes had equal access to resources or favorable locations for gaming establishments. “We will show that native peoples may not be what the public often expects or envisions them to be. That’s part of the learning process.” (David Holahan, Pequot spokesman, pg, 3) Indigenous people chose tribal gaming to support their economic development, but others think they're doing it for just the money. Welch mentions the Navajo Nation, Ohkay Owingeh, and other tribes from NM, which includes other tribes from New York, California, Oklahoma, and Minnesota that had to go through the faults to improve their reservations.

Welch, Deborah. “Indian Gaming.” Economic Issues and Development, Revised Edition, Facts On File, 2019. American Indian History, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=18626&itemid=WE43&articleId=190564.

Current Overview of the Situation

John K. Hillers. “Laguna Pueblo.” National Archives and Records Administration, Facts On File. American Indian History, Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

Gaming in New Mexico

New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee

Alcohol and drugs can be used for coping or for fun. For gambling, they use it to calm themselves based on if it was a win or lost to a bet, as written in this article “Gaming in New Mexico” by the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee. While reading it is a major issue in Tribal communities and how natives think of gambling. The use of drugs causes others mental health which leads to death and injuries. This affects how others see gambling or others Mr.H used to work for Tribal Gaming years ago and has told me his experiences of what it was like and how it affected him emotionally. “Alcohol can be used in many ways” as Howard mentions.

LFC Hearing Brief. “Racing and Gaming.” 2019, p. 12. New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee, https://www.nmlegis.gov/Entity/LFC/Documents/General_Government/Hearing%20Brief%20-%20Racing%20and%20Gaming%20Industry%20Trends.pdf. Accessed 16 December 2024.

Pueblo of Laguna Class III Gaming Casino. https://indianz.com/IndianGaming/2015/03/05/laguna-pueblo-supports-class-i.asp

Accessed Jan 14, 2025

Taking a Gamble: Considering Potential Problems and Effects in Indigenous Gaming Communities

Deborah Welch

Learning about the struggles of Native American Communities in the essay “Taking a Gamble: Considering Potential Problems and Effects in Indigenous Gaming Communities” by Danielle Slawny, she writes about Tribal Gaming effects tribal lands economic development, education, mental health, and financial aid. Teens and children suffer with their education, health, and have trouble spending their trust funds on useless items. Native casinos support their children's education and fund their families for special needs. The struggle of financial aid affects tribal communities which affects their mental health, emotionally and physically. Drug and gambling addictions ruin people's mindset based on if they are greedy for the money. “Indigenous communities continue to face a poverty crisis even with the addition of casinos to their communities” Naomi says.

Slawny, Danielle. “Taking a Gamble: Considering Potential Problems and Effects on Indigenous Gaming Communities | Writing Program.” Boston University, https://www.bu.edu/writingprogram/journal/past-issues/issue-10/slawny/. Accessed 16 December 2024.

Global Connections

Indian Gaming and Beyond: Tribal Economic Development and Diversification

Alan P. Meister

“Tipis in South Dakota.” South Dakota Tourism, Facts On File. American Indian History, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=18626&itemid=WE43&iid=49041 . Accessed 24 Feb. 2025

Indian Gaming is not only being operated in New Mexico but is also taking place in South Dakota. In this article, “Indian Gaming and Beyond: Tribal Economic Development and Diversification” written by Alan P. Meister writes about Indian Gaming in South Dakota. He also writes how South Dakota got into gaming and how they saw it as an eye opener. South Dakota decided that gaming could bring a lift in their communities' needs and could lighten up South Dakota's nine tribes. South Dakota saw this as an opportunity to earn revenue, provide jobs and address the dire socioeconomic situation on their reservations. As soon as South Dakota built their first casino, that’s when the nine tribes followed in the steps of building and opening their own casinos. “Our gaming facility is not among the largest, but we would be hard pressed to replace the jobs and revenue that gaming generates” as said by John Yellow Bird Steele, President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe.

Meister, Alan P., et al. "Indian gaming and beyond: tribal economic development and diversification." South Dakota Law Review, vol. 54, no. 3, fall 2009, pp. 375+. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A201712818/AONE?u=nm_s_santafeis&sid=ebsco&xid=007e276d. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.

Negotiating Meaningful Concessions from State in Gaming compacts to further Tribal Economic Development

Ezekiel J.N. Fletcher

In Michigan they run their gaming operations differently than how we run them in New Mexico and how it’s run in South Dakota. As being written in, “Negotiating Meaningful Concessions from State in Gaming compacts to further Tribal Economic Development” by Ezekiel J.N. Fletcher writes about how Tribal Gaming is differ and is complicated to start in the State of Michigan. Fletcher mentions why casinos can’t be built unless it’s on Tribal Land. “Not surprisingly, most successful gaming operations are located in close proximity to large urban areas. A handful of tribes blessed by geography and demographics have been fabulously successful. The poorest of tribes have remained the poorest communities in the United State.” said by Professor Kevin Washburn. A big issue in the article was with the State of Michigan, they had a problem with casinos that were either built on non-tribal land. It was hard for tribes in Michigan to conduct Tribal Gaming because tribes barely had any land to conduct gaming facilities. So to be able to build casinos, tribes decided to take opportunities to do what it takes for them to conduct gaming on their land.

Fletcher, Ezekiel J.N. "Negotiating meaningful concessions from states in gaming compacts to further tribal economic development: satisfying the 'economic benefits' test." South Dakota Law Review, vol. 54, no. 3, fall 2009, pp. 419+. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A201712815/AONE?u=nm_s_santafeis&sid=ebsco&xid=0e3dacda. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.

“Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan Flag.” Infobase, Facts On File. American Indian History, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=18626&itemid=WE43&iid=281101

. Accessed 24 Feb. 2025.

A new formula of Internet Tribal Gaming

Rachael M. White Hawk

“Cahuilla House.” Library of Congress, Facts On File. American Indian History, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=18626&itemid=WE43&iid=34657. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

Casinos can be built with bricks and mortar, but there can be casinos that can be built in a different way for Tribal Gaming. “A new formula of Internet Tribal Gaming”, by Rachael M. writes about the issues of Internet Tribal Gaming and the effects it causes to the economic development and to Tribal Funds. Internet Tribal Gaming has been a major and is encountering other states of tribes who have casinos built on their tribal land. Internet Tribal Gaming causes issues and wastes money. It could possibly destroy casinos by making them go out of business and could possibly stop tribes from building casinos on their land. As said by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), “ A principal goal of Federal Indian Policy is to promote tribal economic development, tribal self sufficiency, and strong tribal governments.” It’s currently ruining the Gaming industry in California, Michigan, Washington, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, and in New Mexico currently.

White Hawk, Racheal M. "A new formula for tribal Internet gaming." Jurimetrics Journal of Law, Science and Technology, vol. 56, no. 1, fall 2015, pp. 47+. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A458713249/AONE?u=nm_s_santafeis&sid=ebsco&xid=0dbaeea3. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.

Action Plan

Initial Autumn Strategy

A Heartfelt Thank You to My Mom

Citations

RL Articles

Armstrong, Jeanette. “Sharing One Skin: The Okanagan Community,” in Jerry Mander and Edward Goldsmith (eds), The Case Against the Global Economy. San Francisco, CA, Sierra Club Books, 1996. Pp 460-470.
Toastie, B. “How place names impact the way we see landscape.” High Country News: Know the West, 1 May 2022, https://www.hcn.org/issues/54.5/people-places-how-place-names-impact- the-way-we-see-landscape.
Suina, Joseph “And I went to school” memories of a pueblo childhood,”. New Mexico Journal of Reading, Winter 1985, Vol. V, No.2.

Riley, Scott A., editor. “Tribal Gaming in New Mexico: Rebuilding Independent Relationships.” May 16, 2021, p. 12.
Hall, Janie A., et al. "Tribal Gaming Leader Strategies toward a Sustainable Future." The Qualitative Report, vol. 24, no. 4, Apr. 2019, pp. 887+. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A588342538/AONE?u=nm_s_santafeis&sid=ebsco&xid=eb0b08bc. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.
Welch, Deborah. “Indian Gaming.” Economic Issues and Development, Revised Edition, Facts On File, 2019. American Indian History, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=18626&itemid=WE43&articleId=190564. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.

LFC Hearing Brief. “Racing and Gaming.” 2019, p. 12. New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee, https://www.nmlegis.gov/Entity/LFC/Documents/General_Government/Hearing%20Brief%20-%20Racing%20and%20Gaming%20Industry%20Trends.pdf. Accessed 16 December 2024.
Slawny, Danielle. “Taking a Gamble: Considering Potential Problems and Effects on Indigenous Gaming Communities | Writing Program.” Boston University, https://www.bu.edu/writingprogram/journal/past-issues/issue-10/slawny/. Accessed 16 December 2024.

Meister, Alan P., et al. "Indian gaming and beyond: tribal economic development and diversification." South Dakota Law Review, vol. 54, no. 3, fall 2009, pp. 375+. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A201712818/AONE?u=nm_s_santafeis&sid=ebsco&xid=007e276d. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
Fletcher, Ezekiel J.N. "Negotiating meaningful concessions from states in gaming compacts to further tribal economic development: satisfying the 'economic benefits' test." South Dakota Law Review, vol. 54, no. 3, fall 2009, pp. 419+. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A201712815/AONE?u=nm_s_santafeis&sid=ebsco&xid=0e3dacda. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
White Hawk, Racheal M. "A new formula for tribal Internet gaming." Jurimetrics Journal of Law, Science and Technology, vol. 56, no. 1, fall 2015, pp. 47+. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A458713249/AONE?u=nm_s_santafeis&sid=ebsco&xid=0dbaeea3. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.

Photos