The Bingo Queens of Oneida: How Two Moms Started Tribal Gaming in Wisconsin

by Mike Hoeft

Before Indian casinos sprouted up around the country, a few enterprising tribes got their start in gambling by opening bingo parlors. A group of women on the Oneida Indian Reservation just outside Green Bay, Wisconsin, introduced bingo in 1976 simply to pay a few bills. Bingo not only paid the light bill at the struggling civic center but was soon financing vital health and housing services for tribal elderly and poor.
While militant Indian activists often dominated national headlines in the 1970s, these church-going Oneida women were the unsung catalysts behind bingo’s rising prominence as a sovereignty issue in the Oneida Nation. The bingo moms were just trying to take care of the kids in the community.
The Bingo Queens of How Two Moms Started Tribal Gaming tells the story through the eyes of Sandra Ninham and Alma Webster, the Oneida women who had the idea for a bingo operation run by the tribe to benefit the entire tribe. Bingo became the tribe’s first moneymaker on a reservation where about half the population was living in poverty.
Author Mike Hoeft traces the historical struggles of the Oneida―one of six nations of the Iroquois, or Haudenosaunee, confederacy―from their alliance with America during the Revolutionary War to their journey to Wisconsin. He also details the lives of inspirational tribal members who worked alongside Ninham and Webster, and also those who were positively affected by their efforts.
The women-run bingo hall helped revitalize an indigenous culture on the brink of being lost. The Bingo Queens of Oneida is the story of not only how one game helped revive the Oneida economy but also how one game strengthened the Oneida community.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Native American

192 pages, Paperback

First published April 22, 2014

Reviews

[Mariah Jensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very well researched and written in a fairly conversational way. It was interesting to learn about the origins of tribal casinos - bingo.

Were this topic not local to me as someone living near Oneida and seeing the influence of the Oneida Nation of WI in the greater Green Bay area, I don't think I would have been able to finish this book. There were a lot of names, interviews, local locations, and details that may have been confusing if they were not somewhat familiar. That being said, for me, it was cool to learn this history.

[Emma P · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a difficult sort of book to rate. I found it interesting and overall liked the book and appreciated the perspective, but it definitely had ups and downs.

The standout parts for me were around the brief history of the Oneida, the commentary on feminism and matriarchal structures, the meanings of corn, and the legal journey. I also thought it was cool that the local newspaper and tribal council meeting notes could be used to follow the weekly goings on and give snippets of how this was fitting in to just regular life.

On the other hand some of it read as a bit of a family history essay/project, lots of names and dates and who is related to who and their 10 second history. I couldn’t keep track as there were too many names and the chronology was all over the place, so while really cool that it exists as a written history didn’t lend well to reading as a part of the narrative of the book.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Hoeft wrote in a pleasant, informal, yet respectful way which made you feel like you were listening to a family history told round the kitchen table. It is a really amazing that something that as small as a bingo game run by volunteers in a civic center gym could grow to have such a tremendous impact on so many people’s lives. These women are true heroes. Unfortunately, they are the kind heroes that mainstream history books too often ignore. I’m glad their story has been recorded and that they were willing to let it be shared with a wider audience. What they did is inspiring. They show us that each and every one of us can be a catalyst for positive change in our communities if are willing to take that first step.

[Brenden Gallagher · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Bingo Queens of Oneida" is the kind of sweet, small, straightforward book you likely don't read unless you are doing research. While many narratives about Native American casinos involve mafia ties and mysterious billionaires, the Oneida story is about a tribe that makes modest gains and builds a better life for its members thanks to its female-led gambling leadership team. Instead of gunplay, we get spaghetti dinners and Packers games. Perhaps stories like these get less attention because they aren't as dramatic, or perhaps you don't hear them because the big money interests that oppose tribal gaming don't want them told. But, sometimes, its nice to read a non-fiction narrative where things turn out just fine.

Author Mike Hoeft is the son-in-law of one of the Bingo Queens in question, and this book feels more like a family history written down for future generations of the tribe than it does something for public consumption. Hoeft, a veteran local journalist, is a skilled veteran of his craft, but he just uses his gifts in a way you wouldn't see from a mass-market non-fiction writer. The pages are filled with little stories and fun memories, of dinner table struggles, bingo night memories that make you smile, and details that would be of more interest to a great grand-daughter than an avid reader.

You probably don't need to run out and by "The Bingo Queens of Oneida" if you live outside of the Green Bay area, aren't related to an Oneida member, or aren't writing a script about Native American casinos. But, that's the beauty of being a professional writer. Sometimes you get to read something small and lovely that you can rest assured no one you know will ever read.

[jimtown · Rating 3 out of 5]

This historic epic of how a community rallied together to save their children, their civic center and create a giant fund raising activity really shows how much difference just one or two people can make. In time it became more, it was fun and led to the Native American casino craze.

The book was well footnoted and had a lot of info, dates and facts that only those most interested in Native American heritage, casino gaming or the state of Wisconsin will appreciate, but I liked the historical background info and the photos. I'm so glad these people were able to find a way to make their communities thrive.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent history of the Oneida Indians of Wisconsin.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating read about the history of Bingo, gaming and Native Americans.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book!!! Incredibly well written and an amazing story.

[Emma Skiff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book but I just didn't. I think the title was misleading. It would've been better if it was shorter and had a smaller scope.

[Jessica Lerbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely interesting history and biography.

[Christine Kreif · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shows the resilience of the Oneida people and the strength of the women of the tribe to solve problems.

[Bexa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read about the history of the Oneida Nations and how they started and have continued their Bingo on the reservation. While this could have used some editing as Hoeft can ramble and repeat parts of stories, it was wonderful to read, and just really moving how the tribe worked together in order to help everyone succeed. Really allowed you to connect with the individuals that were active in the process of getting it started and continuing the bingo hall.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book as a first read at goodreads.com

I liked this book! It was very informative about these women their heritage and what they wanted for their people and children. I was disappointed that it was a daughter's husband that thought of putting this down on paper. ( should have been the daughter) My gosh what these peoples endured and made it through. It is overwhelming to say the least. I don't understand how we (who came here) could sit back and allow what happened to these Native Americans. But then I guess the German people did the same to the Jewish peoples.

please give this book your attention, it really is a good read.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting history, but not very well written.