California tribes divided on gaming, sovereignty

Thursday, March 9, 2006  

California tribes won more than 60 percent of the vote when Indian gaming went before voters in 1998 and 2000. A recent poll showed that the majority of state residents support tribal casinos.

But the tribes remain divided on basic issues of gaming and sovereignty. A handful of tribes signed new compacts with revenue-sharing and other concessions to the state that the majority of tribes opposed.

The small group -- who organized as the California Tribal Business Alliance -- happens to be represented by the same attorney, Howard Dickstein. He says tribes have to use their sovereignty as a bargaining chip.

But other tribal representatives from the much larger California Nations Indian Gaming Association say Dickstein and his tribes have gone too far. They say the agreements give up far too much authority to the state.

Get the Story:
Bright lights, big disagreements between rival Indian gaming groups in Sacramento (Capitol Weekly 3/9)