"Tribes need to think far ahead to a time when state populations come to that realization. They need to take the income from the casinos today and turn those "marbles" into building blocks and other kinds of income. They need to use it to build a strong economic foundation.

Currently, Turtle Mountain has little opportunity to earn such income. The tribe's location, like that of the Three Affiliated Tribes at Fort Berthold, N.D., leaves them with a revenue stream that may be only enough for salaries and to pay bills.

Give Turtle Mountain the chance to earn an income that they can leverage - an income that will fund economic development. That will make the ills of gambling an easier pill to swallow."

Get the Story:
DORREEN YELLOW BIRD COLUMN: Local tribe deserves the chance to hit the jackpot with gambling (The Grand Forks Herald 6/29)

More Dorreen Yellow Bird:
Yellow Bird: Tribes should be models of government (6/28)
Yellow Bird: Rosalynn Carter a down-to-earth woman (6/22)
Yellow Bird: Program brings students to nature (6/21)
Yellow Bird: How low should those jeans go??? (6/15)
Yellow Bird: A world away at tribal pow-wow (6/14)
Yellow Bird: Reflecting on Civil Rights Act of 1964 (6/8)
Yellow Bird: Diversity, women welcome in government (6/7)
Yellow Bird: Bush made 'poor decisions' on Iraq war (06/02)
Yellow Bird: No outlet for North Dakota holy water (5/24)
Yellow Bird: First Lakota finishes UND nursing (5/18)
Yellow Bird: A goodbye to Friends and Frasier! (5/17)
Yellow Bird: Prisoner abuse recalls Indian massacre (5/11)
Yellow Bird: Mothers' distant memories still strong (5/10)
Yellow Bird: Foreigners more interested in Indians (5/4)
Yellow Bird: Tribes and media must work together (5/3)
Yellow Bird: Native people lost advocate in Elbers (4/27)
Yellow Bird: Think about Earth Day every day (4/26)
Yellow Bird: Strong flower like spirit of Native people (04/13)
Yellow Bird: Drum policy excluded local tribes (04/12)
Yellow Bird: The phenomenon of the 'hobby Indians' (04/06)
Yellow Bird: A tribute to the warrior women (4/5)
Yellow Bird: Indians the most misunderstood (3/31)
Yellow Bird: Keeping our ceremonies sacred (3/29)
Yellow Bird: Awakening for Native and Christian (3/23)
Yellow Bird: Saying goodbye, the Native way (3/16)
Yellow Bird: Human rights in North Dakota (3/15)
Yellow Bird: Hard to find Indian like Martha Stewart (3/9)
Yellow Bird: Is Big Foot wandering reservation? (3/8)
Yellow Bird: Sound of birds heralds arrival of spring (3/2)
Yellow Bird: Big market for 'isms' in the media (3/1)
Yellow Bird: Tribal justice program to bring good (2/24)
Yellow Bird: Indian perspective on Lewis & Clark (2/23)
Yellow Bird: In large family, sisters are special (2/18)
Yellow Bird: Atkins diet worked for Indian friends (2/16)
Yellow Bird: Big-city ballet in a Northern Plains town (2/10)
Yellow Bird: 'Fighting Sioux' is poor sportsmanship (2/9)
Yellow Bird: Lake outlet a tough sell for many (2/3)
Yellow Bird: The magic of the Spirit of the North (2/2)
Yellow Bird: Providing Indian education to public (1/26)
Yellow Bird: Long hair can be hazardous sometimes (1/20)
Yellow Bird: Remembering Grandmother Philomene (1/19)
Yellow Bird: Wild animals have a right to exist too (01/13)
Yellow Bird: Tribe has made incredible journey (1/12)
Yellow Bird: 'DreamKeepers' breaks stereotypes (01/07)