Letter: Passamaquoddy casino not about culture, welfare

Thursday, March 25, 2010  

"In response to Virginia Sands’ op-ed, “Casino would preserve culture and benefit region financially", I agree that the Passamaquoddy, who have pursued a tribal casino for 20 years now, deserve the opportunity, and that a casino would economically benefit Washington County. However, I must comment on three points.

First of all, her presentation of the Passamaquoddy “trying to revitalize their traditional ways of life” is misleading. The Passamaquoddy already live and practice their traditional ways, and their language is spoken throughout their community. They are a culturally rich society, and to imply otherwise is misleading.

Sands’ comments about “welfare” and “Wabanaki tribes… making an effort to separate themselves from the Maine welfare system” is insulting and disparaging. Wabanaki tribes are comprised of capable, well-educated and successful individuals. The Penobscots, for example, are leaders on many national environmental fronts. We must stop this unconstructive generalization of Native American peoples as welfare recipients. It is simply not true and a comment such as Sands’ perpetuates this negative stereotype.

Finally, casino-generated money providing “schools for their children, where the Passamaquoddy language will be taught” implies they don’t already have that. On the contrary, the Passamaquoddy children do have schools where language and cultural arts are practiced."

Get the Story:
Maria Girouard: Writer perpetuates stereotype (The Maine Campus 3/25)

Earlier Stories:
Opinion: Passamaquoddy Tribe deserves a shot at casino (3/22)
Passamaquoddy Tribe pushes ballot initiative on casino (3/19)
Passamaquoddy Tribe reaches deal over gaming ballot (3/18)