The Citizen Potawatomi Nation is undertaking a "complete renovation" of its FireLake Golf Course in Shawnee, Oklahoma, according to a construction update from June 9, 2016. The course is among a slew of businesses that the tribe owns and operates in and around Shawnee. Photo by CPN
The Citizen Potawatomi Nation is an economic powerhouse in Shawnee, Oklahoma, but taxation, land and other issues have stirred controversy in the community. The local paper urges critics to town down the "racial" rhetoric and work with the tribe as a partner:
Would everyone feel as comfortable saying “black people are just trying to take over the city”? Would we accuse black people of voting a certain way on issues on the Shawnee City Commission simply because of the color of their skin or the color of the skin of the people who support them? It is unlikely. It certainly wouldn’t happen without repercussions. There have obviously been legal, taxation and land annexation disputes that have caused the city’s relationship with the Citizen Potawatomi Nation to be difficult recently. However, no rough patches in a partnership should be allowed to bring local political discourse to a tribal or racial level. We hope the citizens of Shawnee and its leadership can stop seeing the tribes who are based here as purveyors of beads and moccasins and instead see them as the potential business partners who will be a benefit to everyone in Shawnee.Get the Story:
Our View: It is time to tone down the rhetoric (The Shawnee News-Star 6/17)
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