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In The Hoop
FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2002

Welcome to In The Hoop, Indianz.Com's occasional column about assorted Indian issues.

In The Hoop: The Scorecard
Is it Friday already? That means it's time for the weekly list of the movers and shakers in Indian Country and beyond.

The Winners
Donna Erwin - In the few short months since super Assistant Secretary Ross Swimmer took over, you have risen to the top of the Indian trust trash heap. You were supposed to be cleaning up historical data, instead it looks like you were lobbying for a new position. Congrats.

Chickasaw Nation - How do you get land taken into trust for gaming purposes when no one else can achieve this bureaucratic and legal feat? You are an Indian economic development success story!

Tom Slonaker - You may have lost your job, but it got you to say what's really on your mind. The sad thing is we already knew Empress Norton had no clothes.

California Indian Tribes -- You scored a major victory in court this week. When are you going to start fighting with each other for the number of slot machines?

The Losers
Indian Trust Reform - Instead of holding hearing after hearing and task force meeting after task force meeting about trust reform, why can't anyone actually do something?

American Indian Kids - Filled with historical guilt, and at such a young age. It must be the MTV, the FUBU gear and the wildly-dyed hair.

Absentee Shawnee Tribe - You used your alleged compact negotiations with Oklahoma to stall a judge so you can avoid paying gaming fines. A smooth move but everyone knows you'll return empty-handed in five weeks. Oh and what about that bankruptcy stuff? Guess it doesn't conform with your $100 million hotel and casino plans.

J. Steven Griles - We heard about your little "cold calls" to announce Tom Slonaker's "resignation." Is this like telling tribal leaders you had nothing to do with the House bill but a day later saying your own staff knew yet had nothing in writing? Loyalty, candor and care -- you wish.

In The Middle
The Yurok and Hoopa Valley Tribes - Can't we just agree to go shopping for some new pant suits? We hear there's a great sale at T.J. Maxx.

Western Shoshone People - President Bush says you lost your land and Sen. Harry Reid says he's just going along with what your tribal leaders say. Why won't anyone in charge say you were robbed?

Connecticut Papers - It's clear you want federal recognition studied again and again. What are you looking for? The answers you want to hear? Just make them up like you've been doing all along.

In Your Hoop
Who are your winners and losers? Email In the Hoop and let us know.