City Beat not a dirty racist, honest

Reader Dustin objected to stories in which I use the term "Indian casino" to describe the casino the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa is proposing to build south of town:

I contact you in hopes of clarification on your article about the new casino proposal. Is it necessary to refer to these casinos as "Indian" casinos? I was unaware that the classification of businesses and organizations is the race of the person or people who own and operate them.

I can’t help but ask. Are the casinos controlled by white people "White" casinos? Are casinos owned by Hispanic people "Hispanic" casinos? I hope you get my point, that referring to these casinos as "Indian" casinos in unnecessary and illustrates a lack of diversity and education. However, I do realize I am dealing with a North Dakota paper.

In any case, your article is unclear. Does Grand Forks oppose a casino or an "Indian" casino? Furthermore, if they are the same, why do you feel the need to label it an "Indian" casino in your article?

Here's my reply:

Dustin, you raise a good point and I'm sorry if you think it's being racist. Honestly, that's not my intent.

I've worked on several stories on this casino with my friend, drinking buddy and colleague Susanne Nadeau, who is an enrolled tribal member. This issue has never come up between us.

First, I call the casino an "Indian casino" because it's a short and sweet term and everybody knows what this means. Shorter is better because readers avoid wordy stories.

Second, Indian casinos are special because unlike any other casino not in Nevada, they're allowed to have slot machines. A "Hispanic casino" wouldn't get that right. In this case, we're not referring to Indians as a race but as category of subnational entities.

Maybe "tribal casino" would clear up the misunderstanding. I'm only wedded to the "Indian casino" term because I like to stick to the same description. I use our archives extensively for research and consistent terminology simplifies word searches.

To answer your other question: The opposition is to a specific casino proposal, the one the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa is bringing forth.

By the way, you really ought not assume that we're a bunch of racists just because we're in North Dakota. Prejudice cuts both ways, Dustin. Anyway, don't blame North Dakota. I'm from Vietnam and grew up in Seattle.

Update 1:47 p.m., 5/10/06: Dustin replied:

I was born and raised in Grand Forks North Dakota. I attended the University of North Dakota. When you spoke of "assuming we are a bunch of racists" includes me. I am not racist. Living in North Dakota I am sure you understand the extremely conservative attitudes of the residents. This is what I was referring to when I wrote about a "North Dakota" paper.

Sorry, man. Your perception's different than mine.

I am recognized by the White Earth Band of Chippewa Tribe. This is a Native American tribe, not Indian. I am sure I don’t need to clarify that Indians are people from India. Native Americans inhabited current day North America before European immigration. I agree using the term "tribal casino" would better describe this casino.

Some Native Americans don't mind being called Indians, like those guys at Indian Country Today and those other guys at the American Indian College Fund. The AP style book says we use the term "American Indian" not "Native American." I couldn't say why, though I prefer the latter myself. Our columnist Doreen Yellow Bird said she's used the term "Indian" before, too.

In your response you stated that you use the term “Indian casino” because everybody knows what it means. I didn’t. It took me, the reader, the time to write you to find out that this means they are able to operate slot machines. Is Grand Forks opposing a casino or a casino with slot machines?

That's probably a question for casino opponents, eh? Do they oppose this casino because it would be run by a tribe or do they oppose it because they hate gambling and see slot machines as the worse kind of gambling? They say they hate gambling and I'd give them the benefit of the doubt.

Possibly in your future articles pertaining to Native American tribal people you could consider people’s attitudes today and not the archives and how past writers referred to these people. This is not a personal attack. I believe you are in a unique position giving you a wonderful opportunity to enlighten people to cultural sensitivities. Diversity must be addressed and recognized, especially by the media.

I didn't take it as a personal attack, more as a clash of different philosophies. I tend to frown on questions over word choice, partly because I grew up during an era of rampant political correctness and partly because I believe context is better indicator of diversity/sensitivity. I realize you're sensitive to the term "Indian" and, I, too, agree that "Native American" is more accurate. But, as you read above, other Native Americans prefer "Indian."

I appreciate your time and candid response.

Thanks for writing.