Biggest Success Story of 2004: Native Americans

Thanksgiving journalism is the perfect time to examine Native Americans. Seldom does it appear to happen. Perhaps this is because ever since the “First Thanksgiving” of 1621, the fate of Native Americans has moved backwards. That is, until 2004. Just as the National Museum of the American Indian opened in Washington, it appears for the first time in a long time, there is something to cheer about on the reservation. Casino gaming has yet to touch every tribe equally, but many have grown richer. Native Americans are the fastest growing racial grouping, and Native American employers are hiring at a frenzied pace. So it should come as no surprise that the National Congress of American Indians wants to build a new headquarters in DC.

What might surprise you, however, is that the largest recipients of donations by Indian gaming lost their elections. In fact, Ben Nighthorse Campbell retired after facing a Senate investigation into impropriety. But nevertheless, Native Americans flexed incredible muscle. They single-handedly revived the moribund Senate campaign of Brad Carson in Oklahoma. Their money also proved useful to Patty Murray of Washington State defending her seat from George Nethercutt. But the ultimate beneficiaries may be the tribes themselves. Revenue from gaming allows them to diversify and create wealth of all forms. At first, dividends from this wealth will likely improve schools and other dilapidated infrastructure across America’s reservation system. But once the floor is swept clean, what will be next?

One possibility: reparations for lands seized in the 19^th century. Another would be buying back that land to give displaced tribes the opportunity to live in their ancestral homes. Uncertainty rules in large part because few non-Indians in America seem to understand Native Americans. Would the tribes seek to avenge themselves for prior mistreatment? Or only build up the country by building themselves up? So far, signs point to both.

Among the most significant pro-Native American legislation is the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. It prevents excavators from touching Native American remains without the permission of the individual’s tribe first. When a nearly 9,000 year old skeleton was found in Washington State and identified as “Caucasoid”, local tribes invoked NAGPRA. Anthropologists desperate to study the Kennewick Man, named the town where he was uncovered, are livid that Native Americans have blocked them from studying one of the oldest human remains found in the United States. NAGPRA demonstrates the desire of its supporters to protect Native American remains from being recalled from the grave.

In Hawai’i there is evidence of a more positive impact. The Bishop Estate, a trust held by the descendants of the deposed Hawaiian monarchy, used its land holdings to create and fund Kamehameha Schools. In the process Kamehameha Schools have become the richest private primary school in America. It also refuses to allow any students who are not of some Native Hawaiian ancestry to attend. Nevertheless, the quality of education at Kamehameha is first-rate, empowering many children coming from impoverished circumstances.

So even though the new NCAI headquarters has yet to break ground, the growing stature of Native Americans cannot be denied. But as we have seen, just what impact it will have remains to be seen.