Lottery ad portrays uninhabited Oregon

Coquille Tribe slams 'Lewis and Clark' campaign for Oregon LotteryThe Coquille Tribe is calling on the Oregon Lottery to stop running a Lewis and Clark-themed advertising campaign.

The spots depict explorers Lewis and Clark, and even an animated bear, "discovering" gaming machines in the wild. Chairwoman Brenda Meade said the ads falsely portray Oregon as a place devoid of tribal people.

"Amid Oregon's natural splendor, they encounter video lottery machines, which are described as 'native' to Oregon," Meade wrote in a a letter on Tuesday. "But this fictional Oregon is land without Indians--an empty wilderness, ripe for economic exploitation, with no competition from indigenous people."A couple of follow-ups:

Lewis and Clark discovered—video gambling?

Oregon Lottery ad campaign pulled following criticism from Coquille Tribe

Oregon's policy on school mascots

People have been talking about the Oregon State Board of Education's policy on school mascots. Here's a typical story:

With tribal sign-off, Scappoose likely to keep 'Indians' mascot

Superintendent talks to tribal leaders about ways to retain mascot

By Nicole ThillUse of Native American mascots was banned in 2012 in 15 school districts by the Oregon State Board of Education. The resolution required the mascots to be changed by 2017 or risk losing federal funding.

However, after several discussions and amendment changes the board determined last week that school districts could keep their mascots if they entered into an agreement with the nearest federally recognized confederated tribe.

The Scappoose School District has been in communication with the Confederated Tribe of Grand Ronde since early 2015 to reach an agreement like this. Superintendent Stephen Jupe and Tribal Council Chair Reyn Leno agree that it is “very likely” Scappoose will keep its mascot, but imagery and representation of the mascot will likely be altered.

“I’m pretty sure based on discussions ... that the full faced-Indian with the feather headdress, that you see in places and on letterhead and things like that, really has to go. And that’s fine,” Jupe said.

Leno said discussions between the Grand Ronde’s cultural department and each individual school district will help identify what names and symbols are culturally appropriate for each school district. Knowing what tribes traditionally lived in each area, what they wore, what they looked like and what they were known for will be key to determining what aspects will remain and what will change, Leno said.

Comment:  A brief discussion on the subject:

Sounds like Grand Ronde is offering one-stop shopping for every school in Oregon.So the mascots will still objectify and dehumanize, but they will do so with greater authenticity and Native input???Yes!Grand Ronde are sell-outs and should be ashamed of themselves. Who gives them the right to approve anything for any tribe/nation but their own? Reminds me of old black folk in the south saying it doesn't bother them to be referred to as coons, jigga-boo, boy, n-word; don't make waves or you'll make things worse, we have bigger issues to worry about, as long as the man pay me my $$ for a good day's work we be alright; ah ole' Mista don't mean nuffin' by it, it's just good ole Joel Olsen doing his black face comedy he just funnin'....

Bull Sh*t!!!Grand Ronde tribe buys former dog racing track, sparking new casino speculation

Gotta keep the white folks happy!

Wamapoke Casino in Parks and Recreation

The TV show Parks and Recreation has ended, but not before one last appearance by "Wamapoke Indian" Ken Hotate (Jonathan Joss):

See all of 'Parks and Recreation's' fake 'Johnny Karate' commercials

By Casey RackhamWhat's better than an entire episode of "Parks and Recreation" dedicated to Andy Dwyer's "Johnny Karate Super Awesome Musical Explosion Show"? A "Johnny Karate" show plus four incredibly ridiculous commercials for things that thankfully/sadly only exist in the "Parks and Rec" world.

Throughout Tuesday's (Feb. 17) episode, which follows Andy and Co. during his last ever "Johnny Karate" show before he moves to Washington, D.C., a handful of commercials that might possibly be considered the most awkward ads ever aired.

There's one for Ron Swanson's building company that has approximately 20 seconds of silence, one for Paunch Burger that features a Dinner for Breakfast Burger Combo, one for Wamapoke Casino with Chief Ken Hotate using wolf folklore to get people to visit and one for a really scary-sounding company called Verizon Chipotle Exxon. It's pretty much all of the Pawnee-themed commercials fans could ever hope for.

Comment:  This commercial straddles the line between good and bad. Obviously, it uses the wolf stereotype only to subvert it with a casino pitch. But the Indian who uses a casino to take back the white man's money is also a stereotype.

You could say the joke is on the white casino customers who fall for this hucksterism and lose their money. Or you could say the joke is on the Indian who acts like a crass commercial money-grubber--i.e., a huckster.

Some Indian casino ads do have this rah-rah tone, but they're usually more sophisticated. Indian casinos are generally big businesses, akin to classy hotels or resorts. You don't see classy hotels or resorts advertising themselves like used-car lots, so why should a tribe take this approach. It implies Indians are less sophisticated--like amateurs or rubes--than they really are.

If it isn't a race-based claim--Indians are primitive and savage--it's a class-based claim. The implication is that Indians act low-class because they're one step up from poverty. Which is only slightly better than implying they don't understand the white man's ways.

In reality, you wouldn't even an Indian shilling for his own casino. Today's tribal executives have MBAs and run multimillion-dollar operations. They'd hire a management team that would hire an ad agency that would hire professional actors to do a commercial. Casino customers want fun and excitement, not Native culture, so that's what the pros give them.

Economist's bogus "sloth" claim

A recent Economist article stirred some controversy by claiming casinos make Indians poor. Specifically, it claimed that tribes with per capita payments from gaming are more likely to be mired in poverty.

People in the know scoffed at this claim, since they've seen with their own eyes how gaming has helped tribes. Now here's a rebuttal to the claim.

Of Stereotypes and Slack Reporting Standards: The Economist’s Claim that Native American Gaming Leads to “Sloth”

By Shawn Fremstad & Erik StegmanAn article in this week’s The Economist is a reminder that we haven’t put the bad old days of racially distorted coverage of poverty beyond us. The article claims “cash from casinos makes Native Americans poorer.” According to the author, a particular problem is that tribes distribute part of the revenues directly to members—typically known as “per capita payments”—which encourages “sloth.” The article is accompanied by a photograph of an American Indian man in front of a slot machine, a grin on his face and his arm pumped in the air.

Given research like Gilens’ and the long history of stereotyping American Indians as lazy, The Economist should have been particularly careful to ensure that it had solid evidence to back up its claim. In lieu of such evidence, The Economist relied on a few anecdotes and a single article by a private attorney published in a student-run law review.

We took a closer look at the law review article that The Economist relied on and were not impressed. It purportedly shows that poverty was more likely to increase in certain Pacific Northwest tribes that distributed part of their gambling revenues to members than in those that did not. But there were only seven tribes (out of a total of 17 that the article focused on) that did not distribute gaming revenues directly to members. The total reported decline in poverty among these seven tribes amounted to only 364 people. The study contained no controls for any of the many factors that affect poverty rates, nor did it take into account size differences in the tribes, differences in the size and structure of the per capita payments, or other relevant factors. In short, the study is absolutely useless in terms of providing meaningful evidence to support The Economist’s claim.

Even worse, The Economist failed to mention the existence of rigorous, peer-reviewed research contradicting the article’s thesis. Unlike the single paper cited in the article, this research uses methodologies designed to isolate the causal effects of per capita payments and generally finds that they have positive effects on poverty and other indicators of children’s well-being. For example, research by William Copeland and Elizabeth Costello, both professors at Duke University, uses longitudinal data that tracks both American Indian and non-American Indian children in western North Carolina. After the introduction of a per capita payment for American Indian families, they documented “an overall improvement in the outcomes of the American Indian children while those of the non-[American] Indian children … remained mostly stable.” Strikingly, educational outcomes for American Indian children “converged to that of the non-[American] Indians,” and the arrest rate of American Indian children fell below that of non-American Indians.Comment:  No doubt the original article was part of the right-wing agenda to demonize the poor. According to Mitt Romney and the "47%" lie, giving people "handouts" or "freebies" makes them lazy and shiftless.

Note that this doesn't apply to corporations and rich people who get billions of dollars in tax breaks and subsidies. They're good, hard-working Americans who don't waste their freebies on booze or drugs--or so they tell us.

People have been telling this lie about Indians almost since the beginning. We took their land, destroyed their cultures, gave them "firewater"...and surprise! They weren't as strong and independent as they once were. That's because we took their land and destroyed their cultures, not because they're inherently lazy.

Natives in The Chris Isaak Show

Long ago, someone told me about an episode of The Chris Isaak Show. I hadn't seen it so I didn't say anything about it.

I just saw the comment below describing the episode. It sounded reasonable so I thought I'd share it.

Friday, December 26, 2016 – First Native EpisodeI called in to mention a Chris Isaak Show episode from 2004 called “The Family of Man.” In the episode, Chris Isaak tries to use his celebrity to skirt important legal guidelines for archaeological excavations when builders of his luxury home unearth Native objects while digging the foundation. He offers to play the local tribal casino, in the hopes that his new friends will allow him to skip the excavation. The subplot is one of Chris’s band members discovers he is “part Native American” and ends up physically inserting himself into a museum exhibit at the local tribal casino museum in an attempt to “discover” himself. Certainly an episode to track down.Another site offers more details:

The Family of ManA happy Chris begins building his cabin in the mountains near Bear Valley, only to discover a Native American artifact during the construction. The contractor stops all work until it can be verified if they're excavating sacred Indian land. Nervous that he may lose his land because of the find, Chris agrees to perform at the nearby Kahoosh Indian casino in hopes of enlisting support from his indigenous neighbors. He also wants to impress singer/songwriter Bret Michaels, who, because of an earlier misunderstanding, thinks he's selfish.

Meanwhile, Anson's on the warpath when he discovers that his recently identified Native American ancestors met a gruesome fate, and goes hunting for retribution.Comment:  I can't tell for sure without seeing the episode, but it doesn't sound good. At least it features a few Native actors, including Gary Farmer, Glen Gould, and Carmen Moore, so that's something.

Indians in Taking Chances

Here's a Native-themed movie I watched a couple of years ago:

Taking ChancesWhen he discovers that an Indian casino is about to be built over the town's historic battlefield, Chase Revere, the self-appointed protector of a small town's rather meager place in American history, joins forces with sexy but dangerous town siren Lucy Shanks to launch an all-out offensive against the project--earning the wrath of the entire town, who believe that the casino will save their decaying local community.Taking Chances (Patriotville)Less concerned with his own bread-and-butter, but more with the town's willingness to easily forget its roots, Chase vigorously opposes the casino. He finds an unlikely ally in town beauty, Lucy (Emmanuelle Chriqui), whom he first meets trying to find her own closure with an absentee dad. Together they begin a signature campaign to stop the impending deal. Town mayor Cleveland Fishback (Rob Corddry) has his hands full with trying to impress the visiting tribe, getting the town board on the same page and placating a business officer for Indian affairs. He doesn't have time to humor Chase & Lucy's efforts and they soon find the town turning against them.

The Indians appear from 0:49 to 1:06 in the trailer.

The Native aspects

As usual with most modern movies, Taking Chances' portrayal of Indians is a mixed bag. I could write a whole essay on the subject, but here are the highlights:

The gaming premise is loosely based on reality, but it's mostly false. For starters, Indians don't have any power to buy or take over a historic battlefield. And any town starved for business would promote its history, including the battlefield.

If necessary, the Indians would find a site elsewhere and coexist with the battlefield. Because two tourist attractions are than one, obviously.

The idea of five Indians negotiating personally with the mayor is ridiculous. Indian casinos have been big business for at least 20 years. In reality, each side would employ lawyers, bankers, and other business people to negotiate the hugely complex deal.

Chief Samuel Many Bulls--he spews a lot of bull, get it?--utters stereotypical clichés to guilt the mayor into signing an agreement. Mary Born Kicking--she kicks and fights a lot, get it?--counters his nonsense with hard-edged facts and figures.

I guess the contrast is supposed to be funny, but it's mostly silly and pathetic. Mary is the only one negotiating like an actual Native businesswoman would.

The actor playing the chief isn't Native, but a few of the actors are. Having a "sort of Native" cast is about par for the course these days.

A hint of the feds

The shadowy "business officer for Indian affairs" doesn't do much other than offer vague threats. I don't recall what he said, but things like, "You'd better listen to me and do what I say."

That's weak, but this is perhaps the only casino-themed movie to recognize the role of federal officials. A tribe would have to take land into trust before it could open a casino, which would require the Bureau of Indian Affairs' approval.

The screenwriters executed this idea poorly, but at least they had the idea. That's something.

The movie ends with a final twist concerning the Indians. I won't spoil it, but it ruins everything that came before. It suggests that everyone dealing with the Indians was an idiot.

When you're talking about a business deal worth hundreds of millions of dollars, few if any idiots are involved. Any businessperson would do due diligence and prevent this kind of problem from arising. In short, there's no way it could happen--none.

Despite these criticisms, Taking Chances is a decent romantic comedy. It's the type you might watch if you came across it accidentally. Or if you wanted to see how movies portray Indians these days, like me. Rob's rating: 7.5 of 10.

For more on the subject, see The Best Indian Movies.

Chris Korpi dies

Chris Korpi, an Indian gaming executive who had worked for several companies, died Saturday of a heart attack. He was one of the leading lights of Indian gaming and an all-around great guy, kind and generous to everyone he met.

As you may recall, I work at Pechanga.net and attend the Global Gaming Expo and NIGA conventions every year. Here's an interview I conducted with him:

Gaming Executive Leads Trips to Indian CountryNote: Chris Korpi, head of Native American relations at VizExplorer, died November 8, 2014. We mourn the loss of one of Indian gaming's greatest advocates and one of Indian country's greatest friends.

###

When Chris Korpi headed off to college in Rapid City, South Dakota, he knew next to nothing about Native Americans. He couldn’t imagine it was the beginning of a lifelong commitment to America’s first people.

After graduating from the School of Mines with a degree in geological engineering, he worked as a lobbyist and consultant for local politicians. Eventually they took jobs at Sodak Gaming, a predecessor of International Gaming Technology (IGT). When they asked him to join them, he agreed.

During stints at Sodak, IGT, Aruze, and Cadillac Jack, Korpi learned the business as a sales executive dedicated to Indian country. He recently joined BIS2, a San Diego-based maker of business intelligence software, as Assistant VP—Native American Relations and Business Development.

In any job, he’s one of the strongest advocates of Indian gaming. He “gets it”—that it’s about giving tribes the means to determine their own future.

As part of his work, Korpi occasionally leads educational trips to his old stomping grounds in South Dakota. We talked about his 2012 pilgrimage, which was sponsored by Cadillac Jack, and his philosophy toward Indian gaming.I went on the 2012 trip with him and got to see that part of Indian country for the first time. You can read my reports and see my photographs here:

South Dakota trip

Photos

Here are some of my favorite pix of Chris:

Chris at Table Rock Beach. May 22, 2014.



Chris explains the geology of the Etta Mine near Mt. Rushmore. June 24, 2012.



At the Mountain View Cemetery near Mt. Rushmore. Chris points out the rose quartz--South Dakota's state stone--on a grave. June 24, 2012.



Chris explains things to our group on the viewing platform at Terry Peak. June 27, 2012.



Chris and friends on the Crazy Horse Memorial. June 28, 2012.



Chris and Adam Beach at NIGA. May, 2014.



Victor Rocha with Chris--one of the handful of people who made Pechanga.net what it is today. April 3, 2012.



P.S. I imagine how Chris would respond to all the praise he's getting. "Thanks, but it's not necessary. I'm not anybody important. If you want to show your appreciation, donate your time or money to a worthy cause. There are people struggling all over the world--in Africa and right here in Indian country--who need your help."

That's the kind of guy he was. RIP, Chris.

Tribes drop Nugent over racism

The following news item caused a flurry of activity:

CdA Tribe Books Controversial NugentThe Coeur d’Alene Tribe of American Indians—itself a target of a recent racism—has booked racist rocker Ted Nugent for a public concert next month at the tribe’s landmark North Idaho casino. The decision is stirring controversy for a tribe that has proudly involved itself in human rights causes and contributed thousands to fight racism. Nugent sometimes wears an Indian headdress on stage, coming close to ridiculing American Indian culture, and mocks those campaigning to change names of sports teams that use words like Redskins and Savages. The legendary rocker, who also is on the board of the National Rifle Association, has a “long history of racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, animus towards immigrants, and propensity to use violence-tinged language,” Media Matters reported earlier this year. That came after Nugent called President Obama a “subhuman mongrel” and referred to him as a “chimpanzee”/Bill Morlin, SPLC HateWatch.The invitation didn't last long once it was publicized:

Idaho Indian Tribe Drops Ted Nugent Citing Rocker’s Racist Legacy

By Bill MorlinLess than seven hours after being asked about the racist legacy of rock entertainer Ted Nugent, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe of American Indians this evening cancelled a scheduled performance next month by the controversial performer.

Tribal officials sounded completely caught off-guard earlier in the day when Hatewatch called and asked why the tribe–with a sterling record of combating hate and standing up for equal rights–had booked Nugent.

Heather Keen, the public relations director for the tribe, announced the decision that Nugent’s scheduled for Aug.4 was being abruptly cancelled.

“Nugent’s history of racist and hate-filled remarks was brought to Tribal Council’s attention earlier today” by the Southern Poverty Law Center, Keen said in a statement e-mailed to media outlets.

“The Coeur d’Alene Tribe has always been about human rights–for decades, we have worked individually and as a Tribe to make sure that each and every person is treated equally and with respect and dignity,” the statement said.Native American Tribe Cancels Ted Nugent Concert Over Unbelievable Racism

By John PragerA Native American tribe, which had booked Nugent at a casino, says it was not thinking about Nugent’s bigotry when the booking was made. “Unfortunately, when we booked him, we were looking at him from an entertainment perspective, as an 80s rock ‘n roller, who we thought folks might enjoy,” Laura Stensegar, executive director of marketing for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s Cour d’Alene Casino, said.“We take the comments and concerns of our community very seriously and we apologize to anyone who was offended by the idea that we would promote these kinds of attitudes. We will do our best to avoid such mistakes moving forward.”

“We adamantly do not want our casino to be used as a venue for the racist attitudes and views that Ted Nugent espouses,” Stensgar said.

Chief Allan, Chairman of the tribe, said “We know what it’s like to be the target of hateful messages and we would never want perpetuate hate in any way,” in a one-sentence statement.

Heather Keen, the public relations director for the tribe, told Hatewatch that, “Nugent’s history of racist and hate-filled remarks was brought to Tribal Council’s attention earlier today” by numerous outlets. “The Coeur d’Alene Tribe has always been about human rights–for decades, we have worked individually and as a Tribe to make sure that each and every person is treated equally and with respect and dignity.”

Poopy Pants dislikes "unclean vermin"

Naturally, Nugent didn't appreciate being canned:

Ted Nugent lashes out at ‘unclean vermin’ after Idaho Native American tribe cancels his concert

By David EdwardsConservative rocker Ted Nugent on Tuesday responded to the news that an Idaho Native American tribe had canceled one of his upcoming concerts by lashing out at the “unclean vermin” who made it happen.

“The Motor City Madman” had been schedule to perform for Coeur D’Alene Casino in Worley, Idaho on Aug. 4 until the Southern Poverty Law Center caught tribal officials by asking for a comment on Monday. Later that day, the performance had been canceled.

“I take it as a badge of honor that such unclean vermin are upset by me and my positive energy,” Nugent told Gannett Wisconsin Media on Tuesday. Put your heart and soul into everything you do and nobody can stop you. Sometimes you give the world the best you got and you get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you got anyway.”

“By all indicators, I don’t think they actually qualify as people, but there has always been a lunatic fringe of hateful, rotten, dishonest people that hate happy, successful people,” he continued. “I believe raising hell and demanding accountability from our elected employees is Job One for every American. I am simply doing my job.”Nugent: His Haters Are 'Unclean Vermin' Who 'Don't Qualify as People'Natives and others offended by Nugent's comments have taken to the rocker's Facebook page and are giving him an earful:

"I'm Native American. I listened to your music in high school. I've seen you in concert many times. My son, who was five at the time, and I met you at the Traditional Bowhunters Show twelve years ago in Kalamazoo, MI. You bent down to talk to him and gave him a pick. I am very offended and am so disappointed in you --- I'm one of those 'unclean varmin' you spoke of. I will no longer attend your shows, or listen to your music. I'm sure my son, who is now 17, will be disappointed in you as well since you've been an influence when it comes to playing guitar and hunting."

"If this page is something that Mr. Ted Nugent can read, I would say to your face that if all of the stupid quotes attributed to you actually came from your mouth, that it should be stapled shut. Children don't need another example of how ignorant, hateful, vain, and reprehensible adult citizens of this country can be...play your music, but leave out your half-baked commentary."

"Ted should just play guitar and sing. Leave his personal political views to himself. He also needs to remove that tacky, cheap warbonnet replica that he wears during his shows. The warbonnet is a very spiritual part of our culture where the privilege to wear it is earned. It is offensive when a person outside of our culture wears one ... disrespects it. Our culture is not a costume."Ted Nugent fires back at 'vermin' who want Oshkosh show canceled

Start of a trend?

Other tribal gaming enterprises are starting to join in:

Tacoma casino cancels Nugent shows, citing racismEmerald Queen Casino will cancel two Ted Nugent concerts that were scheduled August 2 and 3 over allegations of racist remarks by the singer.

Puyallup Tribe officials said the decision came after learning that Nugent has said racist remarks.

"The first amendment gives people the right free speech, but I think racism is intolerable and not acceptable here," said Puyallup Tribal Council Vice President Lawrence W. LaPointe. "We’ve been getting lots of complaints from the community and other organizations."

"I don’t want to take away his right to say what he wants to say, but we don’t need it here."Ted Nugent’s Upcoming Shows at American Indian Casino Face Scrutiny after Idaho Cancellation

By Bill Morlin“[The] decision by the Coeur d’Alene suggests Nugent may need to double-check his standing in Indian country,” the Indian Country piece said.

Devin Burghart, the Seattle-based Vice President of the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights (IREHR), applauded “the courageous decision by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe to cancel” the performance. He said his group was encouraging “all other venues to follow the lead of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and think twice about allowing Mr. Nugent to use their stages to promote his snarling brand of hatred and bigotry.”

But Burghart stressed that the “burden of addressing racism and bigotry shouldn’t fall onto the tribes.” He said it falls on everyone, “particularly the white fans of Mr. Nugent and the many predominantly white-owned venues where he is scheduled to perform” to challenge his racism.Yep, he's a racist

Ted Nugent’s most-enduring record a monotone of racism and hatred

By Shawn VestalHe compared his hometown of Detroit to “Return of the Planet of the Apes.” He said Barbara Boxer “might want to suck on my machine gun.” Nugent has called Hillary Clinton names I can’t print here. He once said, when asked if he knew any hard-working black Americans, “Show me one. Show me one.” He called rappers “big uneducated greasy black mongrels.”

His record of bigotry is so vast–and so frequently given a media microphone–that it was surprising to hear the Coeur d’Alenes had booked him. If nothing else, there was a clear failure to Google. But the tribe and casino corrected course quickly, and they’re putting their money behind it: they’re refunding ticket buyers’ money. The tribe will also presumably have to pay a fee for the cancellation, though that’s still being worked out, a tribal spokeswoman said.

Perhaps the cable news channels could follow the tribe’s lead and uninvite The Nuge now and then. No one who is so bigoted consistently gets such a large and approving public megaphone, and though Nugent–like all good self-pitying zealots–considers himself a media victim, the truth is that he gets an enormous amount of more or less respectful coverage because he’s such good copy.Comment:  Most of the articles didn't mention Nugent's wearing of a Plains headdress in his concert. That alone shows how ignorant and dismissive he is of Indians.

Anyway, let's hope this is the start of a trend. Nugent may have played his last concert at an Indian casino.

For more on Ted Nugent, see Nugent "Tomahawk Chops" Mascot Critics and Nugent's Implied Death Threat.

Greg Burgas reviews Scalped

With the recent announcement of a Scalped TV series in development, it's time to revisit my criticism of the comics.

Comics You Should Own–Scalped

By Greg BurgasIn case you are unaware, the “hook” of the comic is that Dash has returned to the Prairie Rose reservation in South Dakota after over a decade away. Prairie Rose is a Oglala Lakota reservation, modeled clearly after Pine Ridge, and Dash’s mother, Gina, is still living there, protesting against the new casino being built by Lincoln Red Crow, the “president of the Oglala Tribal Council, as well as the sheriff of the tribal police force, chairman of the Prairie Rose Planning Committee, treasurer of the highway safety program, and managing director of this here brand spankin’ new casino,” as Red Crow himself tells Dash when they first meet (well, meet again, as Red Crow knew Dash when he was a boy). Red Crow hires Dash to be his muscle on the police force, but at the end of issue #1, we discover that Dash is actually a special agent for the FBI, sent undercover to build a case against Red Crow. Thus the storytelling engine of the series is revealed–Dash will try to bring Red Crow down, despite all the hardships that will entail.

This grand plot led people to describe Scalped as “The Sopranos on the rez,” which is an unfortunate and largely incorrect description. People are often desperate to fit something new into a familiar category, so they have to break out the comparisons. Yes, Scalped is a crime-noir title, but the FBI’s case against Red Crow and Dash’s attempts to build it are by far the least interesting aspects of the book. This is partly because Aaron doesn’t do enough with Dash himself, so it’s tough to care too much whether he succeeds or doesn’t. Dash careens from mishap to mishap, many of them ridden with clichés. He gets involved with Carol, Red Crow’s daughter, with whom he was in love when they were both young teens. Carol’s story, for a long time, is itself drenched in stereotypes, and when Aaron focuses on their dysfunctional relationship, Scalped is at its worst.So two of the main characters are either poorly written or "drenched in stereotypes"? Sounds like a problem to me. A problem that continues throughout the series, not just the first few issues.Obviously, Scalped created some controversy, especially early in its run. FotB Rob Schmidt collected a lot of stories about the series early on in its run, and I encourage you to check it out (although a lot of the links on the page are now broken). I spoke to Rob recently and he said he hadn’t read beyond the first arc, and I agree that the early issues are somewhat stereotypical. I’m not sure if Aaron was unsure if he could do an ongoing series, as this was so early in his comics career, or if he wanted to grab everyone’s attention with all the violence and sex, but the book becomes far more nuanced after the first six issues and especially after issue #11.Interesting, Greg. You explored all of Scalped's great character work--how the characters changed and grew over time. What you didn't explore was Scalped's overall presentation of life on the rez. The problem is embodied in this sentence:Lincoln Red Crow, the “president of the Oglala Tribal Council, as well as the sheriff of the tribal police force, chairman of the Prairie Rose Planning Committee, treasurer of the highway safety program, and managing director of this here brand spankin’ new casino”...No person on an Indian reservation has ever had this much concentrated power--at least in recent years. For instance, I'm almost certain no tribal chairman manages his tribe's casino. If one did, I'm almost certain it would violate the law.

Which means the feds would intervene and shut the casino down. Casinos don't operate unless the feds are certain they and their management are completely aboveboard. There are hundreds of Indian casinos and not one has been revealed to be a criminal enterprise.

If someone did have as much power as Red Crow, I'm confident the tribe would oust him and the FBI would arrest him--quickly. So an evil empire of this type is essentially impossible. Yet that seems to be the premise of the whole series: criminality far beyond anything possible in real life.

Where are the National Indian Gaming Commission and the tribe's own casino regulators? The internal and external media--such as the NY Times, ABC News, and the Oprah Winfrey Network, who all reported on Pine Ridge recently? The nonprofits, documentarians, even tourists who visit and share what they see? The activists on Facebook and Twitter who protest rez-based conditions? (You and Aaron do realize that most Indians have computers, I trust?)

I don't see any of this reflected in the Scalped I read--or in your review. The whole environment seems like a dark, isolated den of iniquity with no hint of how modern or sophisticated most Indians are. In other words, no matter how good the individual characters are, the series' vision of Native life seems cramped and ugly--i.e., stereotypical. That's my main criticism and I'm sticking with it for now.

P.S. Apologies for the links on my website not working. I've got literally thousands of pages and no time to update any of them. I need worker bees to help me, dammit!

Commenter seeks butt-kicking

Then there's this commenter on Greg's review:Bryan
December 2, 2013 at 11:29 am

Going by the review at the linked site, Rob is an absolutely terrible reviewer and shows very little aptitude for being able to read and comprehend a work. His childish responses are so ignorant it’s almost shocking. Obviously it’s one thing to like or dislike something, but his analysis of the first issue doesn’t seem to grasp the idea of fiction — it’s as if he’d watch Casablanca and think it claimed everyone in Morocco spent all their time in a bar, or read The Great Gatsby and think it claimed everybody in the New York area was spent their wealth excessively.No, Bryan, it's like I watched Planet of the Apes or Escape from New York but it was described as present-day NYC and everyone but me was too ignorant to know the difference.

Ever hear of Birth of a Nation, Amos 'n' Andy, Song of the South, Mandingo, etc.? You seem blissfully unaware that works of fiction can be flawed to the point of prejudice. "Art" isn't a magic label that absolves someone's work of racism, sexism, or any other -ism I could name. Something can be artistic or stereotypical or both.

You can say Aaron's depiction of rez life is unrealistic, fictional, fanciful, or whatever word you want. I say it's unrealistic, fictional, or fanciful in ways that are stereotypical if not racist. I'm not disagreeing with you, I'm just thinking more deeply about the subject than you are. I'm assessing the fiction, not merely acknowledging it like a baby waving at his mommy.

If you disagree, you must prove there are no stereotypes and Aaron's depiction is more or less fair and accurate. So go ahead and do it. Put up or shut up.

Here, I'll make simple for you. Aaron's depiction of rez life is (choose one):

1) Nonfictional.
2) Fictional with racist stereotypes.
3) Fictional without racist stereotypes.

You stupidly think that *I* think it's 1). Wrong. I think it's 2). And you apparently think it's 3), since you've disagreed with me. So explain your position, if you're not too afraid. How is Aaron's Scalped a stereotype-free depiction of rez life?

As for the rest of my review, be sure to let us know when you can quote anything that isn't true. With your fact-free criticism of my criticism, you haven't done it yet.

For more on Scalped, see "Native Spiritual Adviser" Warns Rob and Aaron on Ending Scalped.

Below:  Near-naked strippers, including one in a headdress, at a casino opening? Has Jason Aaron ever set foot in an Indian casino? Because this scene of debauchery would be unrealistic in Las Vegas, much less a regional Indian casino.

Depicting a girl in a headdress (right edge) is telling by itself. This isn't an "artistic choice" that contributes to Aaron's noir themes. It's pure racist stereotyping, nothing more. It's an insult to every Plains chief who earned his feathers through acts of valor.

Natives condemn Sterling's comments

Chumash Casino Yanks Sponsorship of LA ClippersThe tribal-owned Chumash Casino announced Monday it was ending sponsorship of the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team in the wake of racist comments attributed to team owner Donald Sterling.

Sterling is alleged to have made the comments in a recorded conversation with a woman. Portions of that conversation were released over the weekend by TMZ and Deadspin, leading to a national outcry.

Chumash Tribal Chairman Vincent Armenta released the following statement:

“We’ve always been proud supporters of the Los Angeles Clippers, however, the recent statements attributed to the Clippers’ owner have forced us to reconsider our relationship. We remain supportive of the members of the team and we wish them the very best going forward. As a group that has long been marginalized itself, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians and the Chumash Casino Resort are especially sensitive to maintaining the dignity of all people. We cannot ignore any statement that causes harm or hurts any group. As a result, we’re withdrawing our sponsorship of the Clippers organization.“

Other businesses are also ending sponsorships with the Clippers including used car dealership chain CarMax.NCAI Condemns Sterling’s Comments: “No Place In Modern Society For That Kind Of Hatred And Discrimination.”The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) released the following statement in response to the ongoing situation around the Los Angeles Clippers:

“NCAI condemns Donald Sterling’s appalling comments regarding African Americans. There is no place in modern society for that kind of hatred and discrimination. We also want to applaud the many athletes, sportscasters, corporations, and individuals who have spoken out against Sterling and his comments. It is encouraging to see so many people standing together and declaring that this behavior is unacceptable.

“NCAI is no stranger to facing down racism and ignorance in American sports. Every incident of hate and racism–whether a singular incident or the repeated, high-profile use of offensive words and images–is unacceptable and has no place in the 21st Century. We will continue to support the LA Clippers players and fans as they face the fallout from Sterling’s words and we will continue to fight for a world in which no race or ethnic group is treated in this way.”Comment:  For more on the subject, see Sterling: Don't Bring Blacks to Games.

Below:  The Chumash Casino.

Indians in House of Cards

The Indians in Netflix's 'House of Cards'

By Dina Gilio WhitakerUnderwood manages to manipulate his way into the office of vice president where he continues to use people as pawns in his own private chess game. Indians enter the scene when the president becomes implicated in a money-laundering and illegal campaign finance scheme involving a wealthy nuclear energy mogul and an equally as wealthy, powerful and corrupt Chinese businessman. The money is laundered through—you guessed it—a highly successful Indian casino.

The show’s writers seem to clearly understand the structure of the American political machine and the intricacies of its workings. And for the most part they seem to have done their homework when conceiving of the Indians’ role. Themes specific to Native Americans include a complex web of relationships between tribes and the federal government, among other tribes, and references to federal recognition and sovereignty. The wealthy casino tribe is in cahoots with Underwood and his cronies in the money-laundering scheme presumably in exchange for blocking the federal recognition of another tribe whose potential to open a casino is perceived as a threat by the fictitious “Ungaya” tribe. Without giving away the entire plot, let’s just say that the Indian subtext fades away as the debacle erupts into a national crisis.

It was easy enough to write this scenario into the storyline, given the Jack Abramoff scandal in 2005. The scenario bears an eerie resemblance to that fiasco; Spacey went on to star in the 2010 film Casino Jack, a political satire based on the real life scandal, which resulted in jail sentences for lobbyists and implicated a powerful congressman, Tom DeLay.

In House of Cards, the Indians are portrayed in two ways: as both ruthless business people who use their sovereignty claims to evade responsibility for their part in the dirty dealings, as well as underprivileged people ever victimized by those more powerful, even their own kind. Both are familiar tropes in Hollywood’s Indian representations: the greedy money-hungry Indian and the impoverished victim. Nothing about them is neutral or inconsequential. It is precisely this quality that the movie business capitalizes on in the rare occasions when they do incorporate Native Americans into dramatic portrayals.'House of Cards' Actor Gary 'Litefoot' Davis Gets Down to Business

By Vincent SchillingGary "Litefoot" Davis, an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and current President and CEO of the National Center For American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) is raising more eyebrows with his role as BIA Notable Michael Frost in the second season of House of Cards, a political drama starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, on Netflix. Davis recently took a few minutes to discuss his character, his career and how Native actors and filmmakers might benefit from the success of projects like House of Cards.Comment:  It sounds like the main Native characters are greedy tribal leaders and BIA officials. As I've said before about casino plots in other TV shows, and in the Scalped comic book, this isn't a huge improvement over past portrayals. The Indians are still corrupt, deceitful criminals and backstabbers. If you've seen old Westerns about Indian "renegades" or "half-breeds," it's basically the same idea.

If fictional portrayals showed a range of Indians that mirrored reality--most people good, a few people bad--I don't think anyone would complain. But that's not the way it goes in most gaming-oriented stories. There's a heavy focus on the "bad" Indians and little or no recognition of the good Indians. You know, the vast majority of tribal members who would oppose corrupt leaders if they could.

Inaugural iGaming Legislative Symposium

If you follow Indian gaming at all, you know the biggest subject in the gaming world is online or Internet gaming (iGaming). Until iGaming goes national, the biggest prize in the field is the California market. And opening the California gaming market to iGaming means dealing with Indian gaming tribes.

I flew to Sacramento Wednesday for the inaugural iGaming Legislative Symposium. One of the sponsors was Pechanga.net, the website where I work. I had a front-row seat, literally, for the event Thursday.

Since gaming isn't the subject of this blog, I won't bore you with the details. If you're interested, you can read about them here:

Sacramento gaming symposium: a review via Tweets

California Assemblyman: Still a Chance for Online Poker in 2014

Online Gambling Imminent, But Concerns Remain

California Symposium Brings Competing Interests Together

California Poker--iGaming Symposium

For those of us who look at gaming as a means to an end, perhaps the most important comment was this one from Chairman Mark Macarro of the Pechanga tribe. As tweeted by lawyer Chris Stearns and retweeted by me:Chris Stearns ‏@stearnsseattle Feb 27
Macarro: gaming has allowed Indian tribes to be Self-Reliant for the 1st time since we became a labor force for the missions. #iGLS14

Mohegan Sun on Undercover Boss

The Mohegan Sun's casinos were recently featured on the Undercover Boss reality show. The first posting tells what happened:

'Undercover Boss': Mohegan Sun Chairman Gives Valet Who Flunks Him Life-Changing Gift

Bruce 'Two Dogs' Bozsum rewards single mom $35,000

By AOL Jobs StaffJust because you've been a valet customer, doesn't mean you can be a valet driver. Bruce "Two Dogs" Bozsum, retiring chairman of the Mohegan Sun, learned this first-hand during Friday's episode of "Undercover Boss." The Mohegan Sun is a three-location gaming, lodging and entertainment empire owned and operated by the Mohegan Tribe of America. Employing some 13,000, the enterprise generates more than $1 billion in revenue annually.

Mohegan means "wolf people" and the tribe took the unconventional route of Wall Street funding to open its first commercial casino in Uncasville, CT. Since then, casinos have opened in Pennsylvania and Atlantic City, N.J. Decisions are made the tribal way for the long-term, based on looking ahead 13 generations, according to Boszum.The second offers a Native reaction to it:

How Do You Feel About the Mohegan Sun Episode of 'Undercover Boss'?

By Sonny SkyhawkThe show delivered as was advertised, and after it ended our very discerning and critical crowd let out a surprising steady and appreciative round of applause. The episode was formulaic to a T, and Mr. Bozsum did a great job navigating that formula and seemed quite at ease with it. We applauded for a few reasons, but most important was that we had experienced a rare occurrence in Hollywood: a feel-good Native storyline and portrayal. We are so accustomed to seeing our people playing the stereotypical villain or second banana to a masked man, that we are awed by any depiction that breaks that mold.

This portrayal was truly welcomed. Oh, I know some who see it will be quick to criticize, or complain that the depiction was hokey, or this or that wasn't right, but I happen to think it was a very positive portrayal of Bozsum as a modern businessman and tribal leader. It was also diverse in nature, in that it dealt with people who weren't Tribal members or Native.Comment:  I agree with Skyhawk's assessment.

The show spent a few minutes on Bozsum's biography--just enough to humanize him and set him well apart from the stereotypical Indian chief. The bulk of the show demonstrated that Mohegan Sun is a great place to work, with only a few technical difficulties. And the life-changing ending for the employees was truly heartwarming.

The only possible complaint was a few moments of stereotypical flute music and powwow dancing at the beginning. They didn't particularly hurt; indeed, they may have helped. They may have set up expectations for the typical viewer, which the rest of the show proceeded to thwart.

Warring Indians in Phoenix New Times

The Phoenix New Times recently published this article:

Proposed West Valley Casino Is Pitting Valley Indian Tribes Against One Another

Along with it came this image, which the New Times used on its cover:



Wow...stereotypical much? A headdress, tomahawks, a tipi, feathers, warpaint, and arrows. The first three have nothing to do with Arizona's Indians and are thus false as well as stereotypical.

And as Adrienne Keene tweeted:Not to mention the whole "angry warring Indian" vibe when it's an article abt a legislative disagreement. #stereotypesarerealyallExactly.

To understand the problem, imagine a comparable image: Obama and Republican House members in cowboy gear shooting guns at each other. Such an image might exist, and might tell us something about legislative politics. It wouldn't necessarily be offensive.

But most non-Native conflicts are not framed as murderous warfare with lethal weapons. And most Native conflicts are so framed. If you went solely by the images, you'd conclude that Indians are much more likely than non-Natives to resort to physical violence.

This image contributes to the ongoing vilification of Indians as brutes and barbarians. It's not only stupidly stereotypical to (mis)use Indian motifs from other regions. It's stupidly racist to single out Indians for the "savage" treatment.

Wampanoag calls casino foes "skinheads"

Taunton mayor asks for, receives apology from Wampanoag vice chairman

By George BrennanCalling her comments “insensitive and ill-advised,” Taunton Mayor Thomas Hoye Jr. called on the vice chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe to apologize for her comments where she referred to opponents of Native Americans as “NIMBYs,” “skinheads” and “xenophobes.”

The emotional comments by Jessie “Little Doe” Baird came at a hearing at Taunton High School Tuesday night where the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs was preparing to hear public feedback to the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement for its proposed casino.

The tribe is seeking to have the BIA take 155 acres in Taunton into trust for a $500 million casino complex that will feature three hotels and a water park.

Shortly after Hoye asked for the apology, Baird issued one.

“On behalf of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, I want to convey my sincerest apology to anyone who was offended by my comments at the DEIS hearing at Taunton High School,” Baird said. “No offense was meant toward casino opponents, the people of Taunton, or city officials. I was referring to the types of comments other tribes’ land-into-trust applications have received in the past. The comments were directed to the Bureau of Indian Affairs regarding the Land-in-Trust comment process, which lasts 45 days.”Dueling views

More on the story, including dueling views from the right and left:

GUEST OPINION: Apology can’t erase underlying hatred and racism

By Frank LagaceMashpee Wampanoag Tribe Vice Chairwoman Jessie Baird’s letter is not an apology. The context of her remarks Tuesday were squarely aimed at casino opponents, were hateful and intentional. Her “apology” rings empty.

Furthermore, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Chairman Cedric Cromwell’s statement purporting to be an apology regarding the statements of Ms. Baird is an insult to the government and people of this city as well as this nation. This is literally one nation hating the citizens of another nation based on race and disagreement. If the Mashpee wish to reap the benefits as a sovereign nation, they must also suffer the consequences of their leadership’s hateful statements and failure to take ownership and responsibility of such. Would the vice president of the United States be excused for spewing racially offensive comments towards Native Americans, Jews, Muslims, Catholics or people of heritage from all other countries across the globe or because of disagreements? Would casting offensive comments toward an Indian tribe by a citizen of Taunton who opposes the Mashpee casino proposal be acceptable?

Ms. Baird’s use of hate speech regarding those of us trying to protect our homes and community of East Taunton with the explicit and provocative words of skinheads, xenophobes and NIMBYs during a federal hearing that goes on record via a recorded transcript is abhorrent to say the least. A true xenophobe is one who resorts to using such epithets, most alarmingly skinhead. Ms. Baird’s statement will be transcribed in a federal agency’s files. There is no way possible that her hatred can be misconstrued. It is documented in a transcript. It is irrefutable. Her hatred and racism is documented for history. Her speech is condemned in our society and certainly displays an underlying current of hatred and racism simply based on opposition to the Mashpee casino proposal. And an accusation of one being a skinhead is not taken lightly by law enforcement, the courts and the public at large. Nor is it taken lightly by this writer.Then there are the foes' alleged ties to a known hate group:

On the Mashpee Wampanoag controversy: What Jessie “Little Doe” Baird left out

By Hal BrownComments made at a meeting by Tribal Vice Chairwoman Jessie “Little Doe” Baird provoked justifiable indignation and outrage (read letter to the Taunton Gazette) when she made them at a meeting in Taunton. According to The Enterprise:

“At a BIA hearing on the draft environmental impact statement for the proposed casino, Baird told the federal officials that they would hear comments from 'xenophobes, skinheads, NIMBYs, folks who were put off of reservation lands when their leases ended and probably every other hate group east of the Mississippi with every specious argument known to every single tribe that has followed this process since its inception in 1934.' ”

After the uproar, Tribal Vice Chairwoman Jessie “Little Doe” Baird said in a statement that “no offense was meant toward casino opponents, the people of Taunton, or city officials. I was referring to the types of comments other tribes’ land-into-trust applications have received in the past."

What was left out was a further explanation as to what I assume she was referring to. These types of past comments, none specified by Baird, fit the modus operandi of an organization called Citizens Equal Rights Alliance (CERA), which has been identified by some anti-bias organizations as an anti-Indian hate group. They go into high dudgeon when accused of being racist. I have no doubt that many of their members don't have a racist bone in their body, and don't fully grasp the reasons those in Indian Country consider their organization to be a hate group. You can read their website and see if you buy their denials.

When the Mashpee Wampanoag were attempting to open a casino in Middleboro, two members of CERA, one from Plymouth, and another from Carver, attended a number of meetings on the anti-casino side. As far as I know neither were actively involved in Casino-Facts, and although Casino-Facts never took me up on the challenge that they disavow CERA, I never had any indication that CERA as an organization or any of its members were anything more than interested bystanders. That being said, members of the tribe were very much aware that CERA had at least a presence in Middleboro during those tumultuous and divisive times.

The two individuals from CERA are still active in the organization, and represented Massachusetts at a recent conference in Bellingham, Washington in April of 2013.Comment:  Baird used three terms, only one of which is linked to race. I don't think you can characterize her comments as "racist" when they apply to all races, including some whites who may be skinheads.

Midget wrestling at Fort McDowell protested

Group finds AZ casino's 'Extreme Midget Wrestling' offensive

By Jose MiguelThe event draws big crowds, even though their participants are little. Fort McDowell is hosting what they call "Extreme Midget Wrestling," but one Valley woman calls it something different: offensive.

Chandra Streitt is a dwarf, and she says she has experienced discrimination all her life.

"It really does hurt me whenever people say, 'Look mom, there goes a midget' and I do turn around and correct them."

She was even part of a group that petitioned for a proclamation to be signed, which makes it wrong for the word "midget" to be used in advertising or other public forums.Comment:  For a similar story, see Seminole Match Between Disabled Fighters Halted.

Seminole match between disabled fighters halted

State stops controversial MMA fightA controversial Mixed Martial Arts fight between two fighters living with disabilities is canceled just minutes before the match.

One of the fighters has down syndrome and the other cerebral palsy. The state stepped in and shut it down claiming it was unsanctioned. On of the fighter's fathers say it's discrimination.

That fight was set to take place at the Seminole Casino in Immokalee. It's something both of these men told me on Friday was a dream come true. Now they are fighting to find a way back into the ring.

It was a fight that was supposed to be a first of its kind. One both Garrett Holeve, 23, and David Steffin, 28, had been dreaming of, but five minutes before the first punch, the state presented the promoter with a cease and desist letter.Comment:  Just because tribes can do this kind of fight doesn't mean they should.

For more on Native martial arts, see Assiniboine Sioux in Fight Master and Walla Walla MMA Fighter.

The Great Escapist in Supernatural

The Great Escapist episode of the TV series Supernatural featured a Native subplot. It aired May 1, 2013, and I saw a repeat of it recently.

The relevant part of the story is pretty simple. Brothers Dean and Sam are searching for Metatron, an angel who fled heaven. They have part of a "demon tablet" that may provide a clue.

Here's what the Supernatural wiki has to say about it, with my comments:

8.21 The Great EscapistWhile reading Kevin's notes from his translation work on the demon tablet, Sam notices a recurring symbol which appears to be Metatron's signature. It is familiar to him from a course he took at Stanford on Native American art. It's a petroglyph from a tribe in Colorado called The Two Rivers. As the tribe is supposed to be protected by the Messenger of God, Sam and Dean realize this is where they might find Metatron and head to have a look.A few problems here:

The symbol is an ornate, three-lobed thing that might've come from a medieval textbook on alchemy. It doesn't look remotely like a carved petroglyph.

Sam's Native art book says the symbol means "messenger of God." For starters, no one knows for sure what a prehistoric symbol means. Experts can offer theories, but these are educated guesses, not definite translations.

More important, the singular "God" is a Christian concept, not a Native one. I don't think any Native religion was monotheistic, and no one called their chief deity "God."

Dean calls the Indians "Indians" and Sam corrects him, saying they aren't called Indians anymore. Completely wrong.

As they check into a hotel, Sam becomes more unwell, hearing noises, developing a fever, and having vivid memory flashbacks to his childhood. Dean visits a local museum, where the curator tells him that the Native American tribe was led by a man who gave them a bounty in return for their stories. Noticing an old photo features the hotel manager, seemingly unaged, Dean realizes that they may be close to Metatron.

The Two Rivers Reservation is supposedly located on Route 34 in Colorado. This is a real highway that crosses the northeast part of the state.

Colorado has only two Indian reservations in the southwest corner, but a fictional tribe is tolerable for storytelling purposes.

The hotel is really a casino/hotel with slot machines in the lobby, a "Coyote Lounge," and rooms upstairs. Checking in, Dean notes that no one has signed the register since 2006. The place seems almost deserted.

The Two Rivers reservation and hotel appear to be in the mountains, which would put them close to the towns of Loveland, Fort Collins, and Greeley and not that far from Denver. In other words, the deserted hotel doesn't make sense.

If Route 34 doesn't get much traffic for some reason, the small casino/hotel would go out of business. More likely, it would draw visitors from the nearby towns and from Rocky Mountain National Park. It would do decent business and the tribe would build a larger casino.

This is a variation on fictional reservations located in the desert or the wilderness far from "civilization." This reservation is close to "civilization," but Supernatural portrays it as forlorn and abandoned. I presume the reason is because a bustling reservation business with lots of visitors wouldn't convey the same mood.

The Two Rivers hotel manager is stone-faced and unresponsive when Dean tries to joke with him. He's a classic stoic or wooden Indian. He's played by Native actor Clint Andrews and wears a business suit, but his demeanor is purely stereotypical.

Supporting the point, his character is listed as "Hotel Manager." In other words, he's a function, not a character with a name or a life. He exists solely to advance the plot.

The "museum" appears to consist of a single room next to the casino/hotel filled with photos and artifacts. This, at least, is realistic for a small tribe.

The old Indian managing the museum tells a tribal legend that confirms the meaning of the petroglyph. A "messenger of God" came to live with the tribe. He gave them prosperity and long life in exchange for telling him stories.

Yeah, that's a big problem. A tribe whose religion is based on a visit from a Judaic angel? Is Two Rivers supposed to be a Lost Tribe of Israel?

Here's the story on the original Metatron:

MetatronMetatron (Hebrew מטטרון) or Mattatron (a differentiation of Metatron) is an archangel in Judaism. According to Jewish medieval apocrypha, he is Enoch, ancestor of Noah, transformed into an angel. There are no references to Metatron as an angel in the Jewish Tanakh or Christian scriptures (New and Old Testament); however, Genesis 5:24 is often cited as evidence of Enoch's bodily ascension into heaven—"And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him." Although he is mentioned in a few brief passages in the Talmud, Metatron appears primarily in medieval Jewish mystical texts and other post-scriptural esoteric and occult sources, such as the Books of Enoch—1 Enoch, 2 Enoch, and 3 Enoch. In Rabbinic tradition, he is the highest of the angels and serves as the celestial scribe.The whole idea is kind of insulting to Indians. Some Native cultures have existed longer than the Talmud, but here's a tribe who got the word indirectly from Yahweh. What was its religion like before Metatron appeared: a bunch of "primitive superstitions"?

As the wiki notes, the hotel manager appears in an old photo of Two Rivers Indians. Presumably he's lived for centuries. I imagine Metatron gave him long life and he serves the angel by bringing him books--the modern version of telling him stories.

This supernatural bit might not be bad in another story. But there are only two Indians in this story, and one or both are "supernatural." They serve or believe in their master, a white Judeo-Christian angel. They have no independent culture or existence beyond their devotion to Metatron.

Conclusion

The The Great Escapist is a good example of how Hollywood takes one or two steps forward, then one or two steps back. Steps forward: featuring modern Indians at all, and using a Native actor to play the main one. Steps back: the mistakes and stereotypes, especially the implication that Native religion is derived from Judeo-Christian beliefs.

It wouldn't have been hard to do this episode well. Make the clue something other than a petroglyph referring to God. Show several Indians in and around the hotel and make it look prosperous. Have Metatron hidden in a remote part of the rez, not upstairs.

Or just have Metatron hidden in an isolated non-Native rather than Native community. Joseph Smith received tablets, after all, so tie Metatron and his tablets to the Mormons somehow. Indians don't have to be responsible for every supernatural situation in America.

For more on Indians and the supernatural, see Metatron in Supernatural and Bad Kids Go to Hell.

Indian Country Online 2013

Here's where I was Monday and Tuesday:

Online Poker Discussed at California Tribal Conference

By CharlesA tribal conference was held the past two days in California that centered on issues pertaining to tribal interests in the legalization of online poker.

Indian Country Online: The 2013 Congress touched upon many topics that are crucial to California tribes and the prospects of expanding their current online gaming operations to include Internet poker. The conference was co-presented by Pechanga.net and the Spectrum Gaming Group at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula.

Much of the discussion focused on whether state or federal legislation would be more beneficial to tribal interests. Some tribes are said to prefer an intrastate model that would keep the nation’s most populous state from forming compacts with other states. Other tribes believe that a federal scheme may prove more worthwhile in the long run.

Most tribal groups seemed to be in agreement that previous federal bills that have been drafted have not done well in fully representing the interests of tribes. This is an important matter of concern, as it may cause California to opt out of any federal online poker legislation that finds approval in the future. Naturally, the rest of the country would love to include California and its more than 38 million residents in an interstate poker model to increase liquidity and profits.Comment:  My pal Victor organized and oversaw this conference, which took place June 3-4. I attended as an employee of Pechanga.Net.

I didn't get to see much of the actual conference. I was tasked to man our booth and update the website during the day. But the conference was an unqualified success according to all reports.

Some photos of the conference:

Indian Country Online: The 2013 Congress

For more on gaming conferences, see NIGA 2013 (Day 3) and NIGA 2013 (Day 2).

Tatanka Means in Banshee

Tatanka Means to Join Cast of Cinemax's 'Banshee'Tatanka Means, Oglala Lakota, son of actor/activist Russell Means, will follow in his late father's footsteps by joining the cast of the Cinemax drama Banshee in its second season.

The elder Means, an early leader of the American Indian Movement (AIM), was a celebrated actor who appeared in such productions as The Last of the Mohicans, Natural Born Killers, and Into the West. He died of cancer on October 22, 2012.

Russell Means' character on Banshee, Benjamin Longshadow, appeared on four episodes before being killed off. According to Zap2It, Tatanka Means will play Hoyt Rivers, head of security for Benjamin's son Alex Longshadow, played by Anthony Ruvivar. Tatanka Means will appear in approximately five episodes, and other actors will be joining the show for a plotline that incorporates the fictional Kinaho tribe, which operates the Kinaho Moon casino.

"It will feel comforting to work and be with others who had the pleasure of knowing and working alongside my Dad," Tatanka Means told Zap2It. "I look forward to hearing stories of his time on set with everyone. He is my inspiration. Banshee is exciting, I hope my character's involvement will add to another level of excitement."More on the series:

Banshee (TV series)Banshee is an American drama television series created by Jonathan Tropper and David Schickler, who serve as executive producers along with Alan Ball, Greg Yaitanes and Peter Macdissi. The series is set in a small town in Pennsylvania Amish country and features an enigmatic ex-con posing as a murdered sheriff who imposes his own brand of justice while also cooking up plans that serve his own interests.Comment:  Uh, there are no federally recognized tribes in Pennsylvania, and thus no Indian casinos. Oops.

For more on Tatanka Means, see From More than Frybread to Tiger Eyes and All About Tatanka Means.