Opinion ID: 464880
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Tribal Tradition

Text: 30 As we pointed out earlier, tribal tradition remains highly relevant in determining whether state laws apply on Indian reservations. The State contends that the Tribes involved in this case did not traditionally engage in tribally sponsored, high stakes commercial gambling operations catering primarily to non-Indian participants. Therefore, since no such tradition exists, we may accord less weight to the 'backdrop' of tribal sovereignty. Rice, 463 U.S. at 720, 103 S.Ct. at 3295. 31 We find it unnecessary to decide this issue because we believe that the State's focus is too narrow. The focus in determining whether a tribal tradition exists should instead be on whether the tribe is engaged in a traditional governmental function, not whether it historically engaged in a particular activity. The Tribes in this case are engaged in the traditional governmental function of raising revenue. They are thereby exercising their inherent sovereign governmental authority. One of our recent decisions supports this analysis. In Crow Tribe of Indians v. State of Montana, 650 F.2d 1104 (9th Cir.1981), modified at 665 F.2d 1390 (1982), we cited zoning and automobile registration as examples of activities which, though obviously not traditional tribal activities, were nonetheless among the traditional governmental functions currently exercised by Indian tribes. Id. at 1110. 32 Having determined that a tradition exists which recognizes a sovereign immunity in favor of the Indians, we are reluctant to infer that the State should exercise authority in this case. See Rice, 463 U.S. at 719, 103 S.Ct. at 3295. 33 In light of the foregoing discussion, we find that the federal and tribal interests at stake here outweigh the State's interest. Therefore, under the federal common law's particularized inquiry test, the State and County may not apply their gambling laws on the Indian reservations because application of these laws would interfere with reservation self-government. 34 We affirm the summary judgment and the permanent injunction restraining the County and the State from applying their gambling laws on the reservations. 35 AFFIRMED.