Gila River tribal members call for per cap payments

Monday, November 27, 2006  

Members of the Gila River Indian Community of Arizona want their tribe to share the gaming wealth.

The tribe owns three casinos, an award-winning resort and leases prime commercial land. "The mentality of the community is that we have had gaming for 12 or 13 years, and 'I haven't seen anything for me,' " Philbert Soroquisara told The Arizona Republic.

Soroquisara is leading an effort to authorize per capita payments. She submitted a petition with over 1,000 signature, more than enough to implement the payments or call a vote on the issue.

The Gila River Indian Community is the only gaming tribe without per capita payments, according to the paper. With about 20,000 members over the age of 18, the tribe is the largest in the Phoenix area.

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Members ask tribal payments (The Arizona Republic 11/26)