More than 70 American Indian tribes that run casinos in California are hoping Proposition 5 passes in November. They believe it will protect their right to have limited gaming and argue it will make them self-reliant. They see it strengthening education and health programs for their people. But not the small, vocal Rumsey Band of the Wintun Indians, which runs the Cache Creek Casino, in nearby Yolo County.
Tribal leaders claim there is more to fear than revere in the measure.
In essence, we believe Proposition 5 ignores tribal sovereignty - one of the only powerful negotiating tools remaining to tribes that choose to have gaming. In March, Lorenzo's tribe of 19 adults and 13 children struck an agreement with the state. The agreement halted Nevada-style casinos on Indian lands but allowed the tribe to run electronic lottery games. Since then, nine other tribes in the state have signed similar agreements. The agreement allows the tribes to continue using their slot machines as long as the new lottery machines are not available, or competing tribes continue to operate the slot machines.