"What's more unlikely: Indians conducting a sacred "smudging" ceremony near the banks of the Connecticut River in Hartford - or people actually talking to tribal leaders about the impact of their gambling casinos?

Actually, through the centuries, Indians have been quite comfortable gathering near Hartford for tribal ceremonies. It's getting politicians, business leaders and natives together to talk about what's happening with gambling that's been difficult.

Thursday morning, we had both a smudging - which involves the burning of ceremonial herbs or tobacco - and a reasonably frank conversation about gambling at the Connecticut Convention Center.

In one of the few occasions since former Gov. Lowell P. Weicker cut a deal allowing slot machines, a cross section gathered in Hartford to talk about where the gambling industry is headed. The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut and the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes deserve credit for forcing a little discussion - even if few elected officials were in the audience.

"We are far too parochial and not collaborative enough," said Michael Thomas, the Mashantucket tribal chairman. "We have to focus on mutual benefits rather than disagreements."

"We need to get really serious about a private-public partnership here in Connecticut," said Thomas, whose tribe is in the midst of a $700 million expansion.

The explosive growth of Las Vegas-style gambling is transforming our state, but you wouldn't know it in Hartford. Head-in-the-sand legislators and our top elected officials rarely talk about the good and bad associated with our two behemoth casinos."

Get the Story:
Rick Green: Exploring Gambling's Impact (The Hartford Courant 6/15)
pwday