Heartland Chronicles by Douglas E.

¶ … Heartland Chronicles by Douglas E. Foley [...] irony of the Native American gaming Foley discusses in the book. Native American gaming is booming in popularity, and the irony of the situation is not lost on this author. Finally, the Native Americans are taking advantage of white's through their gaming palaces. For centuries, whites have capitalized on the Natives, taking their land, relocating them, and altering their lives. Today, the Natives are capitalizing on the white's propensity for gaming and greed. Foley notes in his Introduction, "This turn of events really piqued my imagination. How ironic that the longsuffering Mesquakis were making money on the white man's vices" (Foley vii). The Mesquakis are capitalizing on Indian gaming, and it has brought prosperity to their lands. However, they are still "those Indians" to the surrounding whites, and the cultural differences between them are just as strong today as they ever have been.

Throughout this book, the anthropologist author chronicles the story of his hometown, Tama, Iowa. It would seem that would tell a bucolic story of moms, apple pie, farms, and Midwestern American values. However, the author shows those stereotypes belong in Hollywood, rather than Iowa. In actuality, the "town" people are distrustful and afraid of the Native Americans and their settlement outside of town. They make up shocking stories about things that happen on the reservation, and maintain that the Indians are only good for violence, drinking, and terrorizing whites. Early in the book the author remembers, "Young white males were brought up listening to this horror story about losing their balls on the settlement. The settlement was a dark place where revenge hung heavy from the boughs of sacred pine trees" (Foley 4). This sets the stage for fear, hatred, misunderstandings, and racism that is prevalent throughout the book. It is clear the "heartland" is not as quiet and peaceful as it might appear to outsiders.

There are many subtle and not-so-subtle issues of racism throughout the book. The author remembers there has only been one Native cheerleader in the history of Tama High School (Foley 4). He calls the border between the two groups "fear and mistrust" (Foley 5). Some residents equate them with "poor white trash" (Foley 10). Whites see them as an economic burden on the surrounding communities, and do not appreciate their culture or values. On the other hand, Native youth often rebel against whites and their customs, and stay to themselves in school and in society. The author shows that the Natives are just as distrustful and fearful of the whites, and that the gap between the two groups is so large, it may never disappear entirely.

Much of the book was reminiscent of many writings about African-Americans in the South. The Mesquakis have to find a way to live in both cultures, especially if they work for white-owned businesses. The author says, "This was my first inkling that all Mesquakis live in some kind of cultural borderland that traverses both worlds. They slip in and out of white jobs and ways of talking" (Foley 7). The distrust and open hostility between Natives and whites is very similar to the treatment of African-Americans in many areas of the country. The author's work seems to indicate that there are racial problems in every area of the country, and between all kinds of races. It is not a simple black/white issue; it is much more complex, and much larger than many people might think. It is also interesting to note that there were several "castes" in the farming community, from Indians to poor white kids, to farmers, to the rich and wealthy city dwellers who lived on "the hill" (Foley 13). Thus, there were several different social layers in the town, but the Indians were always at the bottom of the social ladder, just as African-Americans are in many of America's cities and towns.

Another interesting aspect of this cultural gap is the liberal view of the problem that Foley discusses. He shows how liberal journalists and academics create just as large a gap when they portray the Mesquakis as "noble savages" as the whites do when they portray them as "drunken savages" (Foley 95). Thus, stereotypes that are too far left or right simply do not express the truth. It is clear the Natives have problems, and many whites have racial prejudices that may never go away. Indian gaming has simply added fuel to the fire on both sides, because the Indians are finally making a profit from the white man, and many whites do not agree with gaming and tourism in their small town.

It took many years for gaming to actually gain approval and begin on the Mesquaki lands. The author writes, "After years of contentious debate the tribe had finally gone into big-time gambling. The new casino runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and employs 800 people. All able-bodied Mesquakis (200) not working in better outside jobs work for the casino" (Foley 177). Most of the people who gamble in the casino are whites. Many are tourists bussed in from other areas. Thus, the Indians, as Foley maintains, are relying on the vices of the white man to finally improve their own lives and lands.

What has gaming brought to the Mesquakis and the towns around their reservation? It has brought prosperity for many. The casino offers jobs, and pours money into the community. Foley notes, "With the coming of a gaming operation, there are also an enterprise committee and several grant writers. Everything has become much more modern and more organized. The new center also includes a senior citizens' housing project and dining hall" (Foley 2). The casino money has brought much new life into the area, and surprisingly, it has changed the basic antipathy between the whites and Natives of the area. Foley states, "The casino has been good for local race relations. Whites can no longer complain about the financial burden of Indians when the tribe employs so many whites" (Foley 198). Many whites opposed the casino, fearing it would bring crime and other problems into the area. However, that has not happened. Foley continues, "Most whites are quick to praise the operation's efficiency, cleanliness, prohibition of alcohol, and general orderliness. Indeed, the casino is such a safe, comfortable place to go that some local whites have their morning coffee there" (Foley 198). In fact, the casino has brought economic prosperity to the surrounding area, in everything from new construction to a better standard of living for many of the town residents who work in the casino at higher paying jobs than any other area businesses offer.