Project Documents (PDF)
Executive Summary, Table of Contents, and Contributors

Letters of Support (PDF)
Gov. Bill Richardson
Red Feather Development
Oweesta Corporation

Featuring Interviews With:
(For short bio's please see the Contributors List)

W. Ron Allen

Bobby L. Barrett

James Billie

Kurt BlueDog

Bruce Bozsum

Steve Cadue

Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell

Congressman Tom Cole

Michael Cox

Stanley Crooks

Frank Ducheneaux

Glenn Feldman

Keller George

Ronald Gutierrez

Ron His Horse Is Thunder

Phil Hogen

Elizabeth Homer

Tim Johnson

Gay Kingman

J. Kurt Luger

Anthony Miranda

Sheila Morago

Clinton Pattea

Robert Peacock

Anthony Pico

Mark Powless

Victor Rocha

Bruce Rogow

Chad Smith

Ernest Stevens

Ross Swimmer

Thelma Thomas

Tim Wapato

Rick West

Patricia Zell

Sovereign:
A History of Indian Gaming

The history of Indian gaming is one of tribes empowering themselves to take control of their own destinies. It is the story of a political, legal, and cultural revolution that began 30 years ago. Ipanema Literatures is proud to announce production of Sovereign: A History of Indian Gaming, a book that will tell this story.

The publication will begin with a foreword by Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico. The body of the book will be divided into halves, the first being an oral history of the genesis and growth of Indian gaming. This oral history will encompass a series of interviews with leaders of the Native American Community, and members of Congress, who have played a role in bringing gaming from the early bingo halls to the Class II and III enterprises that we find today.

These interviews will be conducted by Cheryl Cadue Middleton, a member of the Kickapoo Nation in Kansas. Cheryl was a newspaper reporter prior to joining the American Indian College Fund where she served as Program Manager of Public Education and Communications. Currently, Cheryl is a Kansas-based freelance writer who writes articles on American Indian economic development and education issues.

The second half of the book will display narratives from participants illuminating the positive impact gaming has had on Native communities and economies. From job creation, education, and police and fire services to health care, language preservation, and head start programs, this forum will demonstrate, at a local level, exactly how important and beneficial gaming has become for both tribes and their neighbors.

The book will conclude with an afterword written by the publication’s lead editor, Suzette Brewer. Suzette has served as Spokeswoman for the National Museum of the American Indian, Associate Director of Public Relations for the American Indian College Fund, and most recently as Director of Communications for the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA).