“The Bingo Queens of Oneida is much more than a study of how gaming came about in one Native American community in the 1970s. Mike Hoeft has written a beautiful portrait of contemporary Wisconsin Oneida Indian life and its vitality. It is a tribute to the women of the Oneidas—particularly the lives of two determined Oneida women, Alma Webster and Sandy (Ninham) Brehmer—who helped lead the cultural, economic, and political resurgence in this Wisconsin community over the past four decades.” (Laurence M. Hauptman, SUNY Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History and coeditor of A Nation within a Nation: Voices of the Oneidas in Wisconsin)
“The hand that rocked the cradle found a new weapon in the war on poverty. This is the story of strong American Indian women who helped rebuild a great Indian nation. The Oneida bingo moms inspired me!” (Melanie Benjamin, chief executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe in Minnesota, and cofounder of Women Empowering Women for Indian Nations)
“This book is far more ambitious than its modest title suggests. The two bingo moms, Sandy and Alma, are certainly the heart of the book. But the author places those moms in much broader contexts—historical, cultural, and social. He also liberally interweaves personal stories of Oneida people. The overall effect is to make the book more of a conversation, less of a lecture. Like me, you’ll be happy to have had that conversation with the author.” (Arlinda Locklear, attorney and longtime special counsel for the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin)
“Rooted in extensive research and key interviews, The Bingo Queens of Oneida provides a unique picture of an economic accomplishment of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin brought about by the ingenuity, doughty work, and remarkable insight of two Oneida mothers. Hoeft admirably places their work in its cultural and historical context. This volume is an indispensable addition to our understanding of a dynamic nation.” (David R. Wrone, history professor emeritus, University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point)
Hoeft, a seasoned Green Bay journalist,has crafted a volume to help readers understand the nuances of the controversial terrain of Indian gaming. The clean, straightforward writing is supported by meticulous research and abundant interviews. The result is a rare glimpse into contemporary American indian life.(Kathleen Ratteree, Annals of Iowa)