Oneida Nation credits success to Indian gaming

Tuesday, July 21, 2009  

Thanks to Indian gaming, the Oneida Nation of New York has created jobs, economic development and educational opportunities.

The tribe opened its first gaming facility in 1993. Through the Turning Stone Resort Casino and other ventures, the tribe employs more than 5,000 people.

"Basically, anybody that wants a job can have a job. There is zero unemployment," tribal leader Keller George told The East Hampton Press.

The tribe doesn't distribute per capita payments. But the tribe has created scholarship, housing and other programs to provide opportunities to its members.

"If we had done large per capita payments to our people, we wouldn’t have the money to do the scholarships, and that was more important -- to give our kids the desire to go to college and do for themselves," George said.

Get the Story:
Upstate tribe a role model for Indian gaming success (The East Hampton Press 7/20)