The Tigua Indians of Texas thought they’d found economic salvation when they opened a casino in El Paso. The casino has become the US Indian’s “new buffalo”, or new goldmine. From abject poverty the Tigua started to make $6million profit a month, building new homes, shops and giving over $10 million to charity. But Texas conservatives lobbied former governor George. W. Bush to close the casino. Vincent Munoz was governor of the tribe, and says Bush promised him “We’re not going to bother the Indians” but later targeted them in order to win Bible Belt votes. Confusingly, many of America’s Indian tribes operate casinos legally, even in states where casinos are banned. That’s because under federal law they are independent entities. But the Tiguas were brought under Texas law in exchange for state recognition as an Indian tribe. Tiguan leader Albert Avidrez says “We’re supposed to sit, beat on drums, live in our tepees and suffer from alcoholism. What we have in this new century is native Americans wanting to improve their community”. As the Tigua court case rumbles on, many see few alternatives for American Indians.

Produced by ABC Australia