Isabella County

The Michigan State Housing Development Agency is reporting that Isabella County, home to the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe's Soaring Eagle Casino, has the highest poverty rate by far, 24.9% among the eight neighboring counties:  Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladin, Gratiot, Isabella, Midland and Saginaw.

The Median household income is $34,946.  Even with the estimated nearly billion dollars a year taken in by the casino, a major share of the money is distributed to about 2,700 tribal members and it is said that the payments are $7,000 to $10,000 per month.

The tribe does not release per capita information or revenue information but these figures are easy to figure out by the two percent of revenue figures distributed to local governments and school districts.

It took many years after money came in before fuel discounts were made available to its the tribe in 2008 did not start for the Saginaw Chippewa tribe until 2008.  Changes happen but it takes time.

Unemployment among Native Americans is about 15% and it ranks Native Americans as the poorest of people in America.

If all Native American Casino money was distributed equally it would take the yearly per capita income from $11,259 to $23,587 a year.  Only 224 of the 560 federally recognized tribes have casinos.

Successful Native American Casinos generate funds to support police protection, medical response, medical care, education and cultural programs such as language and cultural enrichment. 

Native American gaming only accounts for 21% of total gaming in the United States.  Saginaw Chippewa tribe is not the norm when it comes to Native American gaming and opened in 1998.

About Native American gaming link

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Take a look at what a Casino has done for the Saginaw Chippewa tribe, it is very obvious by looking at:

Succesful casino link

 Time Magazine article link

Elder speaks of casino troubles!