"I don't normally respond to ignorance but there's been a lot of ignorance on the local and national level regarding Native American tribes. A Letter published in the Journal on July 3 headlined "Offended by Winnebago Tribe Efforts" and subsequent online comments prompted a response. The ignorance displayed in both the Letter and the comments also displayed prejudice.

If the Winnebago Tribe had been given the authority to build the casino road higher, it would have been at the tribe's expense, not the taxpayers'. The casino supports 350 jobs for Native and non-Native area residents so it does have a significant impact on the economy. It also supports tribal infrastructure on the reservation. Reservations can't collect taxes like other municipalities. They have to rely on private revenue generation and some federal aid. To shut the casino down indefinitely causes a major hardship for both the local economy and area residents."

Get the Story:
Janice Jessen: 'Ignorance and prejudice' create challenges (The Sioux City Journal 7/10)

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