BIG WAMPUM: Tribulations of a Native American Casino

After decades of consulting with Native American tribes and their casinos I thought it would be of interest to explain what they must go through to be the proud owners of a casino. The process is so tedious that it's humorous. But those tribes that succeed may find a way to self-sufficiency. Or maybe not. But I'm certain they don't think it's funny.The Malaka Tribe of the Costanoan Nation (also known as the Ohlone) in my novel is fictitious but the process they go through is not. I'm not certain whether this is a story of love, hate, greed, politics, financial success, manipulation, or all of that and more. Whatever it is the story will, hopefully, be both entertaining and educational to the readers.The tale takes place in modern times after they have gone through an excruciating and costly process of getting recognition as a legitimate Native American Tribe. This gave them the status of a sovereign nation and a modicum of government support. But they still did not have a reservation and their ancestral lands located in the Presidio area of San Francisco were owned by the federal government.Their next battle would be to reclaim land of their ancestral home or something acceptable as an alternate reservation. If this was a successful venture they would then take on the enormous task of getting approval to build a major casino on their land. They could expect the City of San Francisco and State of California, among others, to object vigorously. The new challenge was daunting but the rewards were enormous. They wanted to share in the Big Wampum enjoyed by tribes with a resort casino development.