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WHITE OPPOSITION TO NATIVE NATION SOVEREIGNTY

The Role of “The Casino Indian” Stereotype and Presence of Native Nation Gaming

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 August 2020

Laurel R. Davis-Delano ,
Renee V. Galliher ,
Kirsten Matoy Carlson ,
Arianne E. Eason  and
Stephanie A. Fryberg
Laurel R. Davis-Delano*
Affiliation:
Department of Social Science, Springfield College
Renee V. Galliher
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Utah State University
Kirsten Matoy Carlson
Affiliation:
School of Law and Department of Political Science, Wayne State University
Arianne E. Eason
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley
Stephanie A. Fryberg
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Michigan
*
Corresponding author: Laurel Davis-Delano, Professor of Sociology, Department of Social Science, Springfield College, 263 Alden Street, Springfield, MA01109, E-mail: ldavis@springfieldcollege.edu
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Abstract

Since first contact with Europeans, Native American nations have strived to maintain and strengthen their sovereignty. Yet, non-Native individuals and groups, as well as federal, state, and local governments, continue to challenge this sovereignty. Despite the critical importance of sovereignty, the only academic study focused on U.S. public attitudes toward Native nation sovereignty predated the rise of Native nation gaming and relied on samples from three universities. In our study, we surveyed over 2000 White Americans from across the United States to examine attitudes toward Native nation sovereignty. Of the many factors that may influence these attitudes, we focused on three: belief in “the casino Indian” stereotype, the perception that Native American interests conflict with the interests of Whites, and the presence of Native nation gaming in participants’ states.

We find two significant models predicting attitudes towards Native nation sovereignty. First, greater endorsement of the casino Indian stereotype is associated with more negative attitudes toward Native nation sovereignty. This relationship is explained, at least in part, by the perception that Native American interests conflict with the interests of Whites. That is, the more White participants endorsed the casino Indian sterereotype, the more apt they were to believe that their interests conflict with Native Americans, which in turn is related to more negative attitudes towards Native nation sovereignty. The second model revealed that the presence of Native nation gaming in the participant’s state has important indirect implications for attitudes towards Native nation sovereignty. Specifically, White participants living in states with Native nation gaming are more likely to endorse the casino Indian stereotype, which is related to greater perceived conflict of interest with Native Americans, and, ultimately perceived conflict of interest is associated with more negative attitudes toward Native nation sovereignty. We situate our findings relative to group position theory and discuss practical implications for Native nation sovereignty.

Keywords

Native AmericansStereotypesNative Nation SovereigntyGamingNative GamingPoliticsGovernment PolicyPublic Opinion
Type
State of the Art
Information
Du Bois Review: Social Science Research on Race , Volume 17 , Issue 1 , Spring 2020 , pp. 55 - 80
Copyright
© 2020 Hutchins Center for African and African American Research

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