"For centuries, the numbers of life have been stacked against the nation's first people.

Native Americans were last, or nearly so, in life expectancy, education, income, job skills, decent housing and economic opportunity. But they were first, or nearly so, in infant mortality, poverty, unemployment, diabetes, clinical despair and premature death.

Life began to improve in 1988 after congressional approval of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which empowered the nation's Indian people to establish gaming operations on their tribal lands.

The decade of the 1990s and the early years of this century have brought success and hope to thousands of Native Americans."

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Benge: Casinos a big boost to reservation lifestyles (Gannett News Service 3/9)