There are twelve (12) sovereign Indian nations in the state of Michigan. Pictured above are those twelve flags along with the USA Flag.
Soaring Eagle Casino Has Soared Over $3 Billion Since Opening in 1998
Chippewa Success Story in Mid-Michigan Result of Wise Use of Capital Fund
July 23, 2004
By: Dave Rogers
The Saginaw Chippewa Tribe's Soaring Eagle Casino at Mt. Pleasant is an amazing success story that has developed in less than two decades.
In 1986, the Saginaw Chippewa tribe got a $10 million land settlement from the government. Instead of taking per capita payments offered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), tribal leadership took control of their own destiny, kept the fund intact and used the interest for development of a casino on the Mt. Pleasant reservation.
A gaming compact was signed in 1993 with the State of Michigan and Soaring Eagle has more than soared, using the capital from the lump sum payment.
"Before that, we relied on the trickle-down effect from the government that had all the strings attached," Bill Frederico, tribal council member, told native Red Earth magazine writer Mary Ann Pember several years ago. "Now we have paved roads, street lights, sidewalks, a fire department, a court system, restaurants, hotels, education programs, an improved health department and, of course, the casino."
Since 1994, using profits from the casino, the tribe has distributed $62 million to 32 units of government. The payments oficially represent two percent of its income from the Mt.Pleasant gambling center. If those figures are accurate, that would mean that profits from the casino since 1994 have exceeded $3 billion. It is believed that the 2,800 enrolled tribal members each receive more than $100,000 annually from casino profits.Also, Chief Audrey Falcon has proposed raising the percentage of profit-sharing to tribal members from 68 percent to 75 percent. The status of that proposal is uncertain.
The Soaring Eagle facility is considered the fifth largest Native American casino in the country. With 4,700 slot machines, it is the biggest and most active in the Midwest. Besides the slots and 55 high stakes gaming tables, an adjoining resort has a 512 room hotel, health spa, restaurants and art gallery.
More than 4,000 persons are employed by the casino and tribal government. The unemployment rate of tribal members is reported to be nil with no members living below the poverty line. The Chippewa have put substantial funds into education and operate their own adult and alternative education program and community college besides supporting local educational agencies.