BLOG.BRYANGALT.US: Another Comment From Monteau

Another Comment From Monteau

The following commentary was sent to me after being rejected for publication by Indian Country Today. This editorial is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of One Little Indian Reports.

A "less personal" response to Harold Monteau:

Dear Attorney Monteau,

I read the propaganda piece you wrote for Indian Country Today in which you accuse the State of

Connecticut

of “genocide” for denying the recognition of two Indian Tribes. As a lifelong

Connecticut

resident I feel I must disagree with your views. The reality is that political corruption and bullying of poor Tribes by rich ones (which you happen to represent) caused the events you are supposedly appalled by.

The State is not trying to wipe out all signs of Indian life, only the tribes who are poor and have no casinos. These tribes provided much of the “illegal” funds you describe that were used to squash the recognition of the other two tribes, one of which was recognized by the State long before the Pequots or Mohegans were recognized by the Federal government. During your rein as the head of the NIGC, you helped the Pequot and Mohegan become two of the richest tribes in the nation. Several news reports stated that the tribes could have lost an estimated $3 billion dollars if other tribes were allowed to operate casinos in CT, but that is only one part of the story.

What you also fail to mention is that the State Gaming Compact allows Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun to stop paying a portion of their slots revenue to the state if any other business are allowed to operate slots. This explains the illegal actions of the state, not genocide.

An article in the Wall Street Journal, also published on Indianz.com stated “ Foxwood's operators felt vulnerable and in need of allies, so another resurrected tribe, the Mohegans, teamed up with another billionaire, South African Sol Kerzner. Swiftly approving their Mohegan Sun casino was Harold Monteau, the Clinton-appointed head of the National Indian Gaming Commission, who ignored opposition from agency staff and from both of his fellow commissioners.

Need we add that Mr. Monteau, a Chippewa-Cree, was eventually shooed from office by congressional critics (mostly Democrats)? His law firm, with the Mohegans as a major client, now serves as a landing place for other fixers on the wing."

You seem to be guilty of the same actions as the people you condemn. The State of

, the Pequot and Mohegan Tribes and Harold Monteau have all engaged in sleazy behavior for profit. Before you decide to write another article, remember that people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

Katie Beecher
www.CasinoWhistleblower.com