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Opinion
Tim Giago: White lawyers growing fat off tribes


"Unless you have been living in a cave in Afghanistan you have surely read about two unsavory lobbyists named Jack �Casino Jack� Abramoff and Michael Scanlon.

Under the guise of saviors of the Indian nations, Abramoff and Scanlon�s subpoenaed email messages referred to their Indian clients as �monkeys,� �morons� and �troglodytes� during and after the time they manipulated the tribes into contributing millions of dollars to their Republican action committees and public relations firms.

All of these rip-offs, though sounding as familiar as the scams committed against the indigenous people by the Indian agents of yesteryear bring some questions to mind. Where were the legal advisors to the tribes through all of this?

It is a fact that many white attorneys and accountants have grown fat and wealthy representing the Indian tribes and their newfound wealth. Starting in 1988 it was like an open season on the gullible and inexperienced tribal leaders. The sudden success of the Indian casinos offered nearly unimaginable opportunities for those lawyers and investment companies smart enough to take advantage of it."

Get the Story:
At rip-off time where were the tribal attorneys? (The Native American Times 4/25)

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