Jun
23
2010
Steve presented at Perspectives on Tribal Land Acquisition in 2010: A Call to Action, a symposium sponsored by the Center for Indian Law and Policy at Seattle University School of Law.Steve was part of a panel discussion titled, "Land Is Everything, and Gaming Is Not a Dirty Word." The panel was moderated by Ron Allen, Chair of the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, and panelists included Leonard Foresman, Chair of the Suquamish Tribe, John MIller, former chair of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, law professor Alex Skibine, and of course our own resident political science and public administration professor Steve Light.
The panel discussed the importance of a tribal land base to tribal self-determination, tribal economies and cultural preservation, and the significant economic and other disadvantages suffered by tribes with little or no developable land. In addition, the panelists spoke to the palpable improvements in education, housing, health care and other fundamental governmental services that have been made possible by revenue generated by gaming and other economic development where new, developable land has been acquired in trust for tribes.
In addition, Steve also moderated a panel on "Looking Forward," which translated the symposium presentations into "action items" for policy reform. As tribal governments contemplate how to strengthen and diversify tribal economies in the twenty-first century, the question of whether the land acquisition process can be made more functional (and affordable) for disadvantaged tribes becomes increasingly crucial.
