Economic Challenges for the Tribe

The Impact of Permitting Limited Gaming at Tribal Facilities on Business Activity in Texas A Study by the Perryman Group (Read the Executive Summary | Download the entire study as a PDF)

A recent government report stated that on virtually every indicator of social or economic progress, Native Americans continue to suffer more than ANY OTHER GROUP. Native Americans have the lowest family incomes, the lowest college graduation rate, the highest unemployment rates, the highest percentage of people living below the poverty level and the highest suicide rate.

Of the nation’s 2.3 million Native Americans, 700,000 still live in poverty.

This picture is no different for the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe.

• 46 percent of all eligible members of the Alabama-Coushatta are not employed on a full-time basis.

• Only 1 percent of Tribal members on the reservation have a four-year college degree.

• Out of a total of 513 on-reservation Tribal members, 147 are diabetic.

• Median household income of the Alabama-Coushatta is $10,809.

The gap between Indian and non-Indian communities in federal health care expenditures continues to grow. In addition, funds for transportation infrastructure, adequate housing, and tribal justice systems for Native Americans also continue to decline. Many promises have been broken. In fact, the United States signed more than 700 treaties with Native Americans, and every one of them has been broken.

The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe does not want a handout – it just wants the opportunity to pursue economic development projects. We want to provide long-term economic stability for our members, and economic independence for individual tribal members. We want a better life for ourselves and our children. We want to be self-sufficient. Our options, however, are limited.