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The People's Casino
The Akwesasne Mohawk Casino has become an important and controversial part of the St. Regis Indian Reservation
When you walk through the front doors, all you see are endless rows of slot machines, blackjack and crap tables, and video poker screens. The smell of cigarettes, alcohol and perfume fill the air as you walk through the maze of games. Then you hear the sound of slots being played, coins hitting the trays, and people who have just won it big.
This may sound like a day in Las Vegas or Atlantic City, but it is actually a description of the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino, located on the St. Regis Indian Reservation right here in the North Country. To visitors, the casino is no doubt a fun excursion from their everyday lives, but what does the casino mean to the Akwesasne people who inhabit the very same reservation?
Raeann Rourke of Akwesasne Casino media relations says, "We believe that the majority of our residents here are generally supportive of the operations of the casino." The casino offers an economic boost due to gambling profits, tourism and job employment. "We are probably the largest employer in the area," Rourke says.
"The casino is supportive to the community and its traditions."
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The people of St. Regis or Akwesasne are part of the Mohawk Native American tribe that has lived in this region of the United States and Canada for generations. Today, the Mohawks of St. Regis, along with other Mohawk tribes, still inhabit the area where many landmarks and towns still bear Mohawk names.
Like many other Indian Reservations across the United States, the St. Regis Reservation are within their rights to build and run a gambling casino, which is outlawed in most state and federal jurisdictions of the United States. Gambling was introduced to the reservation in the 1980s and in 1999 the giant Akwesasne Mohawk Casino was built which now includes over 800 slot machines and twenty-five table games.
Gambling and the building of the casino have sparked some controversy between the people of St. Regis. Though the casino seems to be a positive for the community and is supported by elected officials, there is still some opposition. The people opposed to the casino are the more traditional tribesmen and chiefs who may believe that the casino goes against their native beliefs and customs. "The casino is supportive to the community and its traditions," Rourke says.
Another point of controversy is the split of the reservation between the American and Canadian borders which means along with its own reservation government, it deals with two federal governments, two provincial governments in Quebec and Ontario, and one state government in New York. The smuggling of drugs, weapons and people is just one of the problems the reservations have to deal with. Akwesasne Councilwoman Charmaine Caldwell says, "We have been called a jurisdictional nightmare because of our location."
The international boundary running through the reservation means there are technically two reservations—one on the American side and one on the Canadian side. "The money earned by the casino does not influence the economy on the Canadian side since it is located in New York," Caldwell says. According to her and other Mohawks on the Canadian side, they would like to see some of that revenue cross the border to their side of the reservation. "The casino is still an important part of the people over here because of the job opportunities and beneficiary on both sides of the boundary," said Rourke.
"It is fun time for me and my friends.and it so convenient because it is so close."
Unfortunately many reservations across the nation struggle economically which is why many of them introduce casinos to help improvements. Though it is not true that the reservation needs the casino to exist, it certainly does not hurt the economy. According to the official 2006-2007 Akwesasne Fact Sheet, the casino employs over 500 people of which about 30 percent are native. The casino also contributes nearly $7 million to the Tribal General Fund and regulatory. Akwesasne is just one part of the rapidly growing Indian Gaming Industry which includes over 400 establishments that generate $18.5 billion in revenues.
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Aside from being good for the economy on the reservation, it also offers a place for leisure, not only for tourists but for the natives too. Ryan Johnston, who is part native and lives in the area, is frequent visitor to the casino. "It is a fun time for me and my friends, and it is so convenient because it is so close."
The casino is looking to expand itself in the near future. "We are planning to add some exciting new additions to the casino in the future which include new dining facilities and hotel rooms," Rourke says. Hopefully the Awesasne Mohawk Casino can continue to benefit the people of the reservation.
What do you think of the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino?
Some Mohawk History
The word Akwesasne means "land where the partridge drums." This is the name given by the Mohawks to the area on the St. Lawrence River where the present day reservation stands. During the 1750s, French Jesuits established a mission on the location and has been a home for Mohawks ever since. The Mohawks are part of the famous Iroquois Confederacy along with the Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca nations. As the most eastern Iroquoian tribe, the Mohawks were known as "the keepers of the eastern door," and had great influence with European settlers. The Mohawks and the Iroquois Confederacy is widely believed to be one of the influences on the U.S. Constitution.