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...
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.
In conclusion, "The Heartland Chronicles" shows how differences between races are so difficult to eradicate. The Natives remain mostly in their own settlements, away from the white towns and farming communities. The races do not mix very much socially or culturally, and many of the Natives maintain many aspects of their culture, including the wikiups and traditions handed down for centuries. The coming of casino gaming has changed some of this, and the author does worry that with progress and a steady economy, the culture may eventually disappear. Ultimately, the author's assessments lead to the question, will the races ever get along? In this case, and in many others, it does not seem likely. Whites will still prey on other races, and now, Natives will prey on the white man's vices to gain their own economic freedom. In the end, it does not seem like either group has come out ahead.
References
Foley, Douglas…
