"There's no literal translation in English that does justice to the tribal word himdag. As Governor of the Gila River Indian Community, himdag guides my every decision, my every action. Himdag, as passed down by our elders across hundreds of years, teaches us respect for all things, including the value of a promise, abiding by the law and concern for the welfare of others.
Respect as a guiding principle feels old-fashioned in the 21st century, but it exists all the same - even when our community is compelled to sign its name to a lawsuit against the United States Department of the Interior.
You may have read about that lawsuit, filed Sept. 16. You may have also read about Glendale's lawsuit to stop the casino, filed this week. Out of respect, I believe that I must explain the reasons why my community so pointedly disagrees with Washington and with a southern Arizona sister tribe's plan to build a casino on land they secretly bought in Glendale, 160 miles from their reservation headquarters.
My explanation can be summed up in a single sentence.
We believe the Tohono O'odham Nation, with the assistance of the federal government, has disrespected the rule of law, the balance so carefully struck among Indian gaming tribes, our community, Glendale and every Arizonan."
Get the Story:
Gila River Indian Community Gov. William R. Rhodes: Tribal lawsuit: matter of respect and principle
(The Arizona Republic 10/11)
Relevant Documents:
Federal
Register Notice: Land Acquisitions; Tohono O'odham Nation, Arizona (August
26, 2010)
Larry Echo Hawk Letter to
Tohono O'odham Nation (July 23, 2010)
Related Stories:
Mayor says Tohono O'odham Nation casino
will hurt community (10/8)
Tohono
O'odham Nation seeks IGRA exception in bid for casino (10/4)
City wants consent over Tohono O'odham
off-reservation casino (9/30)
Editorial: Tribes, off-reservation casinos
and urban communities (9/27)
City
files lawsuit to stop Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino (9/22)
Gila River Indian Community sues to stop
Tohono O'odham casino (9/17)
City prepares lawsuit for Tohono O'odham
off-reservation casino (9/9)
Editorial: The good and bad in proposed
Tohono O'odham casino (8/23)
City plans suit on Tohono O'odham Nation
off-reservation casino (8/9)
Editorial: Tohono O'odham Nation mocks
voters with bid for casino (8/2)
BIA will acquire off-reservation parcel for
Tohono O'odham Nation (7/26)
Hearing scheduled in Tohono O'odham Nation
casino lawsuit (5/19)
Gila River
Tribe asks to join Tohono O'odham casino lawsuit (5/17)
Bill targeting Tohono O'odham
off-reservation casino dead (5/12)
Bill that targets Tohono O'odham Nation
casino advances (4/13)
Bill
against Tohono O'odham Nation casino back on agenda (4/8)
Poll backs Tohono O'odham Nation
off-reservation casino (4/2)
Gila River Tribe slams Tohono O'odham
off-reservation bid (4/1)
Tohono
O'odham Nation hails end to anti-casino measure (3/30)
Lawmaker halts bill that targeted Tohono
O'odham casino (3/29)
Editorial:
Casino foes seek to steal Tohono O'odham land (3/24)
Tohono O'odham Nation sues over
off-reservation casino (3/23)
Tohono O'odham Nation slams bill targeting
casino bid (3/18)
Vote planned
on bill targeting Tohono O'odham casino (3/16)
Tohono O'odham Nation loses ruling in
gaming site case (3/12)
NCAI
joins Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino fight (3/9)
Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino bid
still at BIA (3/8)
Bill affects
Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino bid (2/26)
Bill targets Tohono O'odham off-reservation
casino bid (2/3)
Tohono O'odham
Nation 'more committed' to casino (1/28)
Sen. Kyl voices opposition to Tohono
O'odham casino (1/27)
McCain
joins opposition to off-reservation casino bid (1/21)
Tohono O'odham Nation won't drop
off-reservation bid (1/20)
Advertisement
Tags
Search
More Headlines
Catawba Nation continues work on controversial casino in North Carolina
Gaming initiatives backed by tribal corporation faces uncertain future
Chuck Hoskin: Renewed gaming compacts ensure a brighter future for Oklahoma
Republican governor suffers another setback in dealings with tribes in Oklahoma
Cronkite News: Gila River hotels, casinos close for two weeks after worker death
Cronkite News: Curfew curtailing casinos? Don’t bet on it, owners say
'We are thrilled': Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe hails victory for sovereignty
Tribes sue Trump administration after being excluded from coronavirus relief program
Donovan White: Standing up for Native Americans and Native American jobs
'Finally': Tribal gaming in line for coronavirus relief amid stiff competition for resources
Oregon tribes’ primary engines – casinos – stalled by COVID-19
Gaming initiatives backed by tribal corporation faces uncertain future
Chuck Hoskin: Renewed gaming compacts ensure a brighter future for Oklahoma
Republican governor suffers another setback in dealings with tribes in Oklahoma
Cronkite News: Gila River hotels, casinos close for two weeks after worker death
Cronkite News: Curfew curtailing casinos? Don’t bet on it, owners say
'We are thrilled': Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe hails victory for sovereignty
Tribes sue Trump administration after being excluded from coronavirus relief program
Donovan White: Standing up for Native Americans and Native American jobs
'Finally': Tribal gaming in line for coronavirus relief amid stiff competition for resources
Oregon tribes’ primary engines – casinos – stalled by COVID-19
Indian Gaming Archive