This essay was easy for me to relate to. For the past two summers, I have traveled up to Minnesota with my friends to stay with my Aunt and Uncle. It’s a nice vacation for us, but we particularly enjoy the fact that the gambling age in Minnesota is 18. The buzz was enormous on the way up there. We couldn’t wait to get into the casino and walk away with our haul.
We chose to go to Mystic Lake Casino, which is the largest in the state and Located in Prior Lake. The sun was setting in the sky when we rolled into the parking lot, and towering over us were spot lights that crossed and formed a teepee into the night. The Indian references did not stop there. The moment we entered, we were greeted by a traditional looking Indian who asked us if we had any questions. Just like our passage we were assigned, the Indian artifacts and culture could be seen throughout the casino.
Getting back to the article, I think it is particularly interesting that the Foxwoods Casino uses the slogan “Gaming In Its Natural State”. The only fact that shocks me more than this is that Foxwoods is the wealthiest and largest casino in the world. Just like Mystic Lake, it seems Foxwoods reminds it’s players that they are on THEIR land. Why do they do this? Is it to keep up a tradition? I feel that this creates a negative stereotype for Indians. Instead of hunting buffalo and living in teepees, people may now go on the think Indians are thriving on the addicted to make their living.
I also think it is interesting how they design the casino. Looking at pictures on the internet I see something that looks more like Disney world than a place to bet a few dollars. Much thought goes into the design of these places. As mentioned before, Native American culture spills out everywhere. On the chips, cards, coasters, walls, and employees, Indian folklore is alive and well.
The path that these Native Americans have taken is a very interesting one. In the beginning they lived off the land, and now they are building more extravagant casinos every year. The culture can still be seen, but I think it is quite a bit different than that of their ancestors.
Discussion Questions:
1. Why is there visual Native American culture in casinos?
2. How has Native American culture changed over time?
3. Why are these casinos so profitable and what kind of people do they target?
I think the Native American cultured has definitely changed drastically over the years and for the worse. As far as the business world is concerned, they are not hurting, but when it comes to their culture and who they are, I feel as if they have lost a lot of it because of the casinos. I feel as if they are trying to mix their traditions and customs with the social norms in today's society to come up with this casino. It is definitely interesting to examine how the Pequots have changed over the years.
ReplyDeleteI like how you brought your own experiences into this blog it brings more of a personal feel to it and reinforces much of what we read in the chapter.
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