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Federal approval of gaming compacts between California tribes and the state will usher in a new era of development and change for many throughout the state.

10 years ago, how many Californians knew Indians and Indian tribes still existed in the state? After years of neglect, many of the state's indigenous population were living below the poverty level and some tribes were thought to have disappeared altogether.

The advent of gaming in the 1980s soon changed the public's awareness. Slowly, tribes began operating small gaming operations and were even encouraged by the federal government.

But their efforts hit a snag when the state challenged the tribes' ability to determine their own economic future. The state took its case all the way to the Supreme Court but lost. The landmark 1987 California v. Cabazon decision upheld the right of tribes to run their gaming facilities.

For better or worse, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) emerged a year later, forever changing how states, tribes throughout Indian Country, and the federal government interact with each other over sometimes politically sensitive issues of sovereignty, self-determination, and states' rights.

The difficult climate made its own appearance in California. Former Governor Pete Wilson long opposed expanded gaming so the tribes took their case to the people. The voters agreed with the tribes, approving expanded "Vegas-style" gaming through Proposition 5 in 1988.

Victory was short lived. In 1999, the California Supreme Court ruled Vegas-style casinos illegal in their state. Under IGRA, that meant the casinos were illegal too.

The tribes once again took their case to the public. Over $100 million, was spent on a new gaming initiative, Proposition 1A, the most ever. In March, their efforts paid off as voters overwhelmingly approved the proposition, which amends the California Constitution to recognize the legality of Indian gaming.

Casino friendly Governor Gray Davis and 60 gaming tribes quickly worked together to develop new agreements. Kevin Gover, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs, signed off on them this past Friday, calling the compacts "a victory for respectful government-to-government relations between States and Tribes."

Tribes won't be wasting any time implementing their new plans either. Tribes like the Agua Caliente Band, the Pala Band of Mission Indians, and the San Pasqual Band are forging ahead newer and bigger casinos, costing anywhere from $90 million to as much as $180 million.

With all the money being spent and political power being flexed, now no one can ever say they don't know there are still Indians in California.