Navajo Nation Look to Casinos As reported by the Farmington Daily News: "Geographic isolation —the very thing that has restricted the economy of the Navajo Nation — will prevent it from following the national trend of unemployment for gaming tribes once casinos are built on the reservation, according to George Hardeen, communications director for Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr.
"According to a survey released by the National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) in Washington, D.C., the average rate of unemployment of tribes across the nation is 43 percent. Gaming doesn't change that much, as responses from the NAIHC housing authorities showed a 42 percent unemployment for tribes that allow casinos. "…Hardeen said the location of the communities on the Navajo reservation will allow that tribe to buck the trend, once casinos are introduced. "The tribe has already approved gaming and is currently developing regulations and conducting site visitations in anticipation of selecting locations for the casinos and has begun the process of introducing gaming as a revenue source…"
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