Peter N. Herndon
LESSON: Recent Issues Facing Indians Today
Goals:
1. To make students aware of recent court cases involving Indian rights;
2. To cause students to prepare for a debate and defend their position;
3. To encourage students to learn in small groups;
4. To prepare and give a classroom presentation to other students.
Methods:
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1. Students are assigned one of several topics of current interest in Indian communities;
2. They are divided into groups of four or five students and each is given a "Background Issues" sheet, describing the pros and cons of each issue.
3. The group then decides how to proceed in preparation for their presentation to the rest of the class. Options include:
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· a short dramatization,
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· a courtroom simulation,
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· a role play where different spokesmen present their views;
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· a visual presentation, where students prepare a visual display to illustrate factual information
Procedures:
1. The teacher prepares a "Recent Issues Sheet" handout for each group. (See below) Topics may include but are not limited to the following:
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· "Casino Gambling"
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· "Hunting and Fishing Rights"
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· "Peyote Use and Religious Freedom"
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· "Artifacts and Burial Remains"
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· "Reservation Mismanagement"
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· "Powwows" (cultural festivals)
2. Students use the teacher prepared handout to get them started. They may use the Internet and other information available to them. In their presentation the issues for debate must be clearly presented by both sides.
3. They must try to come up with a "solution" to the problem that both sides can agree to. If not, have the class vote on a solution to the problems. (How should the government respond to the Issue under discussion?)
4. Students will prepare a first draft to hand in to the teacher, along with evidence of further research, prior to each group's classroom presentation.
RECENT ISSUES SHEET #1
Topic: "Casino Gambling on Indian Lands"
Task:
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Students decide whether the Tribal Council should establish a gambling casino on reservation land.
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Facts:
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In 1988 the U.S. Congress passed the Indian Gaming Act. It allows federally recognized tribes to negotiate with states regarding casino operations.
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Several tribes, including the Mashantucket Pequots of Connecticut, and later the Mohegan tribe, discussed establishing casinos on their land to bring in badly needed revenue to the tribe.
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Issues for debate:
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Pros include:
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Increased tribal revenues
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Increased job opportunities, both for tribal members and
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Connecticut citizens
Cons include:
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Deterioration of tribal values, replaced by greediness and commercialism
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Dangers of organized crime involved
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Negotiations with the state for taxes and fees
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Building and staff training costs, etc.
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· What kinds of risks are involved in building casinos?
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· Who would we have to hire to manage the casino?
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· How would we make it attractive and upscale?
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· How would gambling affect our people?
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· What about the many people whom are victims of gambling?
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· What would all the commercialism do to our reservation land?
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· Would there be an increase in crime?
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· How would individual tribal members share in the profits?
RECENT ISSUES SHEET #2
Topic:
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"Fishing and Hunting Rights" (could also include Hunting for Whales)
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Task:
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Students sitting in as voting representatives on the Connecticut Judiciary Committee listen to testimony from individuals with opinions on giving Indians back the right they once had to fund and fish on tribal lands.
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Facts: Connecticut Mohegans became officially recognized as a tribe in 1994 by the federal government. Since that time they have sought to reestablish their tribal traditions to have unlimited hunting and fishing rights within their reservation boundaries. Also, they are seeking permission from the state to develop the lakes and streams for public recreation.
Indian Concerns:
Is the state willing to lend us money to develop our land into a
public recreation area for boating, fishing and camping?
Is the state willing to give us unrestricted hunting and fishing rights within reservation land according to our traditions?
Is the state willing to allow us to sell hunting and fishing permits to Connecticut residents who want to hunt or fish during the regular season?
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State Concerns:
What guarantee would the Mohegans make to be able to repay the state for loans made to improve their lands?
Unlimited hunting and fishing would threaten to eliminate all wildlife and fish from the area. How would this be prevented?
There would be a loss of revenue to the state if Indians sell hunting and fishing licenses that the state would otherwise sell. How would the state share in money charged to Connecticut residents?
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Obstacles:
State laws would need to be changed to make exceptions for Indian lands.
There are costs to funding these projects.
Any plan affecting land use needs to be environmentally acceptable.
Questions:
Should Connecticut tax funds be used to help the Mohegans develop their tribal lands in a way that would benefit them? Is this project something the taxpayers should support or oppose? Why?
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Note: Similar "Recent Issues Sheets" could be developed for each topic. There are various ways the teachers and students may choose to present both sides of these issues. See narrative section for a fuller description of issues.