Chippewa Indians discuss new tensions arising from economic gains made by the tribe. Tribal representatives discuss that long standing racial and social tensions have reignited due to the tribes' desire to enter into what would normally be the pervue of so-called 'white' businesses, i.e., marinas and outdoor sporting tourism.
Part two of a three part report.
SPEAKER 1: Right now it's economics and race. But first and foremost is economics because, for the first time within my tribe's history, we have become an economic threat to the white people. We developed this complex right here, the Onigum Point Marina, we developed up in Grand Portage with Hilton that's coming with us, and developing a hotel complex. And all over the reservation, it's happening. This is the first time in the history of Indian people that we have become an economic threat to non-Indian people.
And what that means is that we're taking money out of white people's pockets, that's what boils down to. And the white people don't like it. White people don't like us taking a quarter, a dime, a nickel out of their pocket, no way.
SPEAKER 2: Like Dick just said, I believe it is economics. The one statement that I will make on this year fishing that is going on now is that we as Indians have never demonstrated, never rioted, burned buildings, or anything like that. We went to the white man's own court, we went to the legislature, the judicial system of the state. And what I would like to know is what more do these people expect of us in this great American system that we have?
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