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A Tribe Takes Grim Satisfaction in Abramoff's Fall
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"It's just about getting away from the house," Elliott said.
Native American groups frame gambling as an issue of personal freedom.
"We're not putting a gun to anyone's head and say give money to the Indian people," Sickey said. "It's a personal decision."
For now, the Coushattas are simply hoping to win their money back, maintain their casino profits in the face of competition, and hold on to their customs.
Many speak their native language fluently, and the tribe is particularly noted for the baskets some weave from pine needles.
Most significantly, they are trying to prove to themselves that they can manage the riches that come with the casino. The old tribal council, which entered into the agreements with Abramoff and Scanlon, has been swept from power. Many voters said they were disappointed with the former council members but doubted that they had enriched themselves.
"He cheated us. He deceived us. And he shouldn't get away with it just because he's big in Washington politics," Sylestine said.
"We want justice," Kirk Langley, a tribe member who works at a millwork shop, said during a cigarette break. "And we want our money back."
