NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/business/4387363.html

"MIAMI — The Seminole Tribe of Florida said Thursday it was buying the famed Hard Rock business, including its casinos, restaurants, hotels and huge collection of rock 'n' roll memorabilia, in a groundbreaking $965 million deal with a British company.

The deal with London-based Rank Group PLC is believed to be an American Indian tribe's first purchase of a major international corporation of its size, the Seminoles said. It includes 124 Hard Rock Cafes, four Hard Rock Hotels, two Hard Rock Casino Hotels, two Hard Rock Live! concert venues and stakes in three unbranded hotels."

That's right, Indians own the Hard Rock Cafes (well a big chunk)...and you thought we only did casinos!

Also, now we have a bunch of your significant historical and cultural items!

"The tribe also will acquire what is said to be the world's largest collection of rock memorabilia, some 70,000 pieces including Jimi Hendrix's Flying V guitar, one of Madonna's bustiers, a pair of Elton John's high-heeled shoes and guitars formerly owned by Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and Chuck Berry."

I say one thing for the english. They really don't mind who they fuck over.

Will they also start a professional baseball team called the "Palefaces" and do the air guitar to cheer them on? You know, to get even with the Atlanta Braves and FSU Seminoles fans using the tomahawk chop.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomahawk_Chop

Also, now we have a bunch of your significant historical and cultural items!

Those historical and cultural items belong to Native Americans just as much as they do to any other American.

Anyway, good for them. I live in a town with a very successful tribe, and I hope more tribes become successful.

Will they also start a professional baseball team called the "Palefaces" and do the air guitar to cheer them on? You know, to get even with the Atlanta Braves and FSU Seminoles fans using the tomahawk chop.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomahawk_Chop

I'm still hanging on to the hope that someone will create the "Cleveland Krauts" as a baseball team. They could have a really fat guy waddle around in Leiderhosen and stuff. It would be amazing!

Will they also start a professional baseball team called the "Palefaces" and do the air guitar to cheer them on? You know, to get even with the Atlanta Braves and FSU Seminoles fans using the tomahawk chop.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomahawk_Chop

That would be awesome!

I was considering posting this when I read about it yesterday, something along the title "Rock on, 'Noles" or so...

Those historical and cultural items belong to Native Americans just as much as they do to any other American. Awww...that's sweet. What would you do if they decided to burn them? hahhahahahahaaaa....

I'm still hanging on to the hope that someone will create the "Cleveland Krauts" as a baseball team. They could have a really fat guy waddle around in Leiderhosen and stuff. It would be amazing!Or the Boston Celtics! That would be swell, wouldn't it? ;)

Or the Boston Celtics! That would be swell, wouldn't it? ;)

Indeed :D

Will they also start a professional baseball team called the "Palefaces" and do the air guitar to cheer them on? You know, to get even with the Atlanta Braves and FSU Seminoles fans using the tomahawk chop.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomahawk_Chop
Sort of like that rec-league basketball team from that college in the Dakotas that called themselves "The Fighting Whites," even though at least one member was a Native American. I really wanted one of those jerseys.

Awww...that's sweet. What would you do if they decided to burn them? hahhahahahahaaaa....

It's their personal property now, isn't it? Do you honestly expect people to be angry that Native Americans are being economically successful?

It's their personal property now, isn't it? Do you honestly expect people to be angry that Native Americans are being economically successful?

I don't think they would burn it anyways, that would be a major blow to business.

IMHO, the Hard Rock brand is on the decline. But, I'm not the super savvy investor, so what do I know?

Just getting that "we sold them some bead necklaces, har har har" sensation, that's all...

Man, the only dang Injuns not to sign any of our treaties and now they're getting uppity and buying our rock stuff? What is coming of this world!?!?!

=)

On a different note, I'm actually part Seminole, so I always think it's cool when they get mentioned.

Man, the only dang Injuns not to sign any of our treaties and now they're getting uppity and buying our rock stuff? What is coming of this world!?!?!

=)

On a different note, I'm actually part Seminole, so I always think it's cool when they get mentioned.

The Seminole story is an interesting one down here in Florida. I plan to do some more reading on it, but the upshot was that they beat the asses of anyone who came after them, and eventually just got tired of fighting.

Sort of like that rec-league basketball team from that college in the Dakotas that called themselves "The Fighting Whites," even though at least one member was a Native American. I really wanted one of those jerseys.

Holy crap! I want one too. Are they available online?

The Seminole story is an interesting one down here in Florida. I plan to do some more reading on it, but the upshot was that they beat the asses of anyone who came after them, and eventually just got tired of fighting.

Pretty much. I did some research into it when I was younger. Basically, they refused to deal with the US government, as they were well aware that the government regularly cheated Native Americans in those deals. ((There is a good story about Osceola taking the treaty and sticking his dagger through it, leaving it hanging from a tree)).

When the US government tried to take over anyways, the Seminoles just pushed deeper into the Everglades, where they could live and fight quite well, but their pursuers could not. Many did still die, but they never actually gave in. These days, they still technically control the tip of Florida, IIRC.

dont the seminoles already own 2 hardrock casino/hotels in florida?

good for them, hopefully it's a profitable excersize.

Holy crap! I want one too. Are they available online?

It was at least a couple of years ago, so I'm not sure. It caused a small bit of brouhaha when it happened, as I recall.

Edit: Here you go. http://www.cafepress.com/fightinwhite

dont the seminoles already own 2 hardrock casino/hotels in florida?
There's currently a partnership--the Seminoles own the land and Hard Rock operates the hotels/casinos. I imagine that's part of the reason the deal got done.

There's currently a partnership--the Seminoles own the land and Hard Rock operates the hotels/casinos. I imagine that's part of the reason the deal got done.

ohhhh thats quite a jump for the seminoles then.

good luck to them. id love to see them being big players in the hotel/casino scene around the world.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/GermanNightmare/ForThoseAboutToRock.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/GermanNightmare/WeSaluteYou.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/GermanNightmare/EddieRocking.gifhttp://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/GermanNightmare/EddieHeadbanging.gifhttp://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/GermanNightmare/EddieRocking.gif

Will they also start a professional baseball team called the "Palefaces" and do the air guitar to cheer them on? You know, to get even with the Atlanta Braves and FSU Seminoles fans using the tomahawk chop.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomahawk_Chop

Then- they will have a commerical with me weeping.

Then- they will have a commerical with me weeping.

Do you have any First Nation blood in you? That would make it supremely ironic. Since the guy who played the Indian in those commercials was actually second generation Italian-American.

Do you have any First Nation blood in you? That would make it supremely ironic. Since the guy who played the Indian in those commercials was actually second generation Italian-American.

Why would it be ironic ? I've got a lot of Italian too. Not that I could-or would prove any in here.

Why would it be ironic ? I've got a lot of Italian too. Not that I could-or would prove any in here.

Role reversal. The guy in those littering commercials (the ones I'm assuming you were referring to) was dressed like an Indian but was really of Italian heritage. You would be the weeping one in this case, but if you were of native American descent... aah, never mind.

Role reversal. The guy in those littering commercials (the ones I'm assuming you were referring to) was dressed like an Indian but was really of Italian heritage. You would be the weeping one in this case, but if you were of native American descent... aah, never mind.
That's what you get for trying to be clever in public.:p

That's what you get for trying to be clever in public.:p

You'd think I'd have learned by now.

Perhaps the People can do something about this irony:
In the Hard Rock Cafe in Denver, they have a large metal sign, hanging on a mahogany wall, that says "Save the Planet."

Role reversal. The guy in those littering commercials (the ones I'm assuming you were referring to) was dressed like an Indian but was really of Italian heritage. You would be the weeping one in this case, but if you were of native American descent... aah, never mind.

I'm as injun as they come, pick me! :D

I am glad to see the native Americans buy it from those dirty brits. In fact I hope they buy more foreign corporations and bring em home to the states.

I am glad to see the native Americans buy it from those dirty brits. In fact I hope they buy more foreign corporations and bring em home to the states.
Long as they pay significant corporate income tax, I don't care who owns what. ;)

Long as they pay significant corporate income tax, I don't care who owns what. ;)

I do not believe they are immune to corporate income tax. Especially since they do no own all the shares.

It's their personal property now, isn't it? Do you honestly expect people to be angry that Native Americans are being economically successful?

Um....yes. You should see the kind of hate-mongering that happens every time a Reservation talks about opening up a casino...here in Canada anyway.

I do not believe they are immune to corporate income tax. Especially since they do no own all the shares.

Hmmm...that'd be interesting to look into. In Canada, any business conducted on Reservation is free from taxation. I wonder how it would work on a huge deal like this in the US?

In Canada, any business conducted on Reservation is free from taxation.

Is that on both Federal and Provincial levels? I can't remember...

Is that on both Federal and Provincial levels? I can't remember...

Yup. If some of the work goes on OFF the reservation...say, you are an electrical contractor...only the jobs you do on reserve will be tax free, everything off is taxable. Doesn't matter at what level the work is.

The system isn't the same in the US, but in any case, the Cafes are not all on reserve land, so even here they'd be taxed.

I do know a bit of corporate law. I would think that under a general corporation such as HRC they would be subject to taxes. It is a traded company that is registered with the SEC. Therefore I would think its tax status does not change.

I do know that if an Native American owns a business off tribal land that business is subject to taxes. So don't think this would be any different.

Y'know, if I was at all surprised about anything, I suppose it was most likely that an acquisition of this sort hadn't occurred already. Perhaps we'll see more in future.

Um....yes. You should see the kind of hate-mongering that happens every time a Reservation talks about opening up a casino...here in Canada anyway.

We don't get much of that around where I live. The tribe in my town is rather well liked by the people here. They have a casino, hotel, and concert venue and are the second largest employer in town after the university. They also pay better than the university for custodial jobs, from what I hear.

When I lived in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan the attitude was much the same. In fact, there were even a couple of billboards around town written in Ojibwe.

Y'know, if I was at all surprised about anything, I suppose it was most likely that an acquisition of this sort hadn't occurred already. Perhaps we'll see more in future.

Would like to see more of this. That way Native Americans will become self sufficient and not cost the federal government so much.

There's a lot of hostility towards Natives in Canada, fuelled by events such as Oka and Caledonia. A lot of deliberate politicial misrepresentations of us and a lot of very openly racist politicians.

Would like to see more of this. That way Native Americans will become self sufficient and not cost the federal government so much.

Considering you aren't paying much in rent, I think it's you costing us.:p

Considering you aren't paying much in rent, I think it's you costing us.:p

I don't know, I see a lot of tourists buying a lot of extremely overpriced drinks at the casino :p

They have their eyes set on the Microsoft Corp., I can see it in their eyes.....

Considering you aren't paying much in rent, I think it's you costing us.:p

Remember there is a high percentage of N Americans that have native blood in them. I am included in that group. So paying myself rent would be silly wouldn't it? ;)

There's a lot of hostility towards Natives in Canada, fuelled by events such as Oka and Caledonia. A lot of deliberate politicial misrepresentations of us and a lot of very openly racist politicians.

Not to downplay, nor in any way to belittle or minimize your sentiments Neesika, but those feelings of hostility could just be a bit more localized in nature than it might otherwise seem.

There's a lot of popular support for Natives in Canada, too - fuelled by those very same events.

Not to downplay, nor in any way to belittle or minimize your sentiments Neesika, but those feelings of hostility could just be a bit more localized in nature than it might otherwise seem.

There's a lot of popular support for Natives in Canada, too - fuelled by those very same events.

This isn't just my feeling, Dobbs. I have native relations and friends across Canada, and we all feel it. The support affects us much less, and is much less visible than the racism. Not to mention that often the support is misguided, and more harmful than helpful (especially when phrased in, how we can save you-type terms)

I'm not trying to say all non-aboriginals inherently hate us. But there is a widespread lack of understanding that is difficult to overcome.

Remember there is a high percentage of N Americans that have native blood in them. I am included in that group. So paying myself rent would be silly wouldn't it? ;)

There is not that high a percentage of North Americans with native blood to any significant extent. And unless you are a member of an Indian Nation, blood or no blood, you aren't Indian.

There is not that high a percentage of North Americans with native blood to any significant extent. And unless you are a member of an Indian Nation, blood or no blood, you aren't Indian.

Well going to have to disagree with this. If you have native American blood you are part native American. I don't need to be a card carrying member of a tribe to be part native American. Just as I am German and French. I don't need to be a citizen of those nations to claim a blood line. As far as it not being a high percentage. The vast majority of mixed blood peoples do not identify as native or may not even know a grandparent or great grandparent was native. The census does not really take into account for these people. I personally identify as French blood because that is the dominate mix in me. However I am German, Scandinavian, Irish and Native American.