Eastern Door Volume 3 Number 11

Volume 3 Number 11

July 1, 1994

Casino Referendum: The Question
"Are you in favor of a community-owned and operated casino in Kahnawake?"
By: Kenneth Deer

July 2nd has been designated the date that the community will be asked its opinion on whether to continue on a course toward a casino in this community. All the discussion groups, debates, protests, petitions, fliers, radio talk shows and newspaper ads will show their affect on July 2nd. (Barring of course a delay by the latest petition)

The question that is asked is well constructed. Answering it for some will be easy, but for others the question may not be what it seems.

If you are in favor of a casino than the answer would be a yes. Period!

If you are against casinos on principle, that is you do not believe that gaming is a proper source of revenue for our community, than a no to the question is obvious,

If however, you are against the casino because you are not sure of the who, the what and the how of the casino, then you must consider the referendum question carefully. This is what one would consider to be a 'soft' no. That is, under the right conditions, the individual could agree to a casino.

The question asks "Are you in favor of a community-owned and operated casino?" The question does not specifically identify what authority in the community will operate the casino nor does it specify who will own the casino on the community's behalf. Undecided voters then can answer yes to the question as those answers will come later.

We all hope the people who will take part in the referendum are voting for the right reasons and leaving emotions and bias aside. For those who have decided either way and for those who are undecided, here are some thoughts on some of the issues.

Land

The argument that a casino will use up much needed land for housing and our future generations can be applied to any project that this community may consider in the future. Be it a large shopping center, industrial park or other economic activity, land will be needed. Using land for a casino is no different than any other project.

It is possible that new lands can be acquired in future land rights actions by this community.

Employment

One point must be born out. The worst kind of employee is one who thinks you owe him a job. An employee like that feels he can't be fired or disciplined. Community members, or any one else for that matter, should not be led to believe that the casino has to give everyone a job. Everyone has to earn a position and must perform well to keep it.

Much discussion has taken place about what kind of jobs will be available to our people in this casino. Although there will be two thousand jobs, many will be bilingual positions and not many of our people will qualify for these jobs, leaving people to speculate that we will be left with the janitorial positions in the casino.

Pride in how you make a living is important. There are many ways to earn a living and there is no shame earning a good salary as a janitor. There are a number of people in our community who make their living that way now. They carry out an important safety and health role in our community and we shouldn't be putting down our own people who take pride in their work. Hierarchies are necessary in business for reasons of supervision, but there shouldn't be a hierarchy that places janitors at the bottom of some imaginary ladder of success.

Also some say that the construction jobs are only temporary. What construction jobs aren't?

There are plenty of types of jobs available from upper management to part time labor, but the real purpose of the casino is not to produce employment but TO GENERATE REVENUE FOR THE COMMUNITY

The moneys raised would be used to build an economy in the community where long term employment would be developed.

For centuries our people have worked for others. Since the time of the voyageurs to ironwork, our people have worked for Europeans and their offspring. Having 2,000 non-natives work for us is a nice change. As a matter of fact, that thought has certain appeal.

The Life Span of the Casino

The casino will not be productive for more than ten to twelve years. By that time North American will be saturated with casinos and they will be as common as bingo. If there is going to be a casino, then the window of opportunity is now. The casino may still function, but competition will eventually make it a borderline operation.

Revenue

Because of the short life span of the casino, the revenues developed must be spent very carefully. Moneys raised should be used to develop an economic base that does not depend on gambling. One example is to develop small to medium size manufacturing as a base to generate good paying, long term employment for the community. The moneys should not be used on projects that create dependency, or be used to replace programs that the Government is responsible for. Certainly a portion should be used to improve the quality of life in the community such as recreation and other areas.

A large portion should be set aside in a heritage fund for the future. The fund would be used by our future generations when times get rough.

Social Impacts

Drugs and alcohol abuse are a problem for our society whether a person works as a croupier or on a computer assembly line. How a person spends their hard earned dollar depends on their attitude towards drugs and alcohol, not how their money is earned.

Can we honestly say, with all due respect to our proud ironworkers, that fifty men working in a casino are more at risk of alcohol and drug abuse than fifty men in New York working on steel?

The exposure to gambling is already here in the area and there will be more in the future. Addiction programs would be necessary whether we have a casino or not. But prevention, at least in our own casino, is best. Should we have our own casino, our own people should be barred as happens in other small countries. (i.e.. Monaco)

Quebec Government negotiations

There is much speculation about negotiations with Quebec. Quebec will never agree, Quebec will want a percentage of the profits, Quebec wants total jurisdiction in Kahnawake These are possible negotiating points. Some of the predictions may be accurate however we will never find out until the time that discussions actually take place.

When it comes to negotiations, we are at a disadvantage because Quebec knows the divisions in our community and will try to use it to their advantage. Quebec will probably play hardball by insisting on every point that this community will not agree to, such as jurisdiction, revenue sharing, etc. to deliberately sabotage the negotiations. Unless of course our negotiators have a strong mandate from the community.

Quebec has no moral argument to deny us a casino. They have one themselves and are planning more. Their successful casino is a model for others to follow.

It would be interesting to see if Quebec would pay us NOT to open a casino. Say 30 or 40 million a year. No strings attached, except that we don't open a casino. That idea might have potential.

If Quebec is concerned that there will be a casino in each Mohawk community, another idea that may be interesting to Quebec is that the Mohawks, all Mohawks that is, will open only one casino in Quebec. This casino would then raise revenue for all Mohawks. A true Mohawk Nation project. This may also have potential.

What is irksome is that if the community decides not to go ahead with the casino, Quebec officials will be doing cartwheels. That alone will encourage some to vote yes.

Conclusion

The casino is viable but only with the support of the community. A close yes vote in the referendum, 51% to 49% does not mean that there is a clear mandate to go ahead. At the same time a 51% to 49$ vote for the no side does not mean the issue is dead. What's fair for one side is fair for the other. In order for this referendum to work there must be a broadbase turnout at the polls and hopefully a clear result in one direction or the other.

There are many people in our community who do not take part in voting because it violates their political posture. This is not unusual and their voices will not be heard in this referendum. However, there are differences of opinion in the traditional ranks as well as to whether there should be a casino in Kahnawake or not. Some would agree if the casino were run by a traditional government. It may be that the referendum results will parallel the yes Dan no numbers among traditional people as well.

In conclusion, which every way one would vote, the referendum is the only opportunity at this time for people who vote to express their opinion. It is important that the Mohawk Council and the community get a clear picture of what the community feels.

If you are not adverse to the voting process, don't wake up the morning after the referendum and regret that you didn't use your vote.

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If It Weren't For Bad Luck....
By: DEW. Filbert, Kahnawake Fire Brigade

How's this for bad luck. First day on the job, first trip with the company truck, first dent in the company truck, but what a dent!

For approximately 11 hours Highway 207 was closed while a variety of towing companies attempted to right the truck, but according to witnesses, they moved it a total of 16 feet. 8 feet in one direction and another 8 feet in the other.

Once the 73 ton crane arrived from Montreal and set up, it took minutes to get the beast out of the swamp and back up on the road.

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