Hi, everyone my name is John Tovar although most of you probably know me as Kevin’s father. It feels funny returning to my alma mater Palm Springs High to give a speech. I was embarrassed when they first asked me. Believe me in high school I would have been voted least likely to succeed if anyone paid any attention to me at all. I didn’t have fancy clothes, a nice car or any car. I went to school to get the free meal at lunch, and to hang out with my friends. My mother worked three jobs to keep a roof over my head, and she would have kicked my ass if I ever dropped out. So, I limped along and finished high school with a very below average G.P.A. Not setting a very good example for you, but this is a redemption story.
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| Native American Women in Palm Springs |
I’m going to give it to
your straight because I believe you are old enough to learn how the world
works. When I was growing up, I wasn’t proud of being Native American. I wished
I could be one of the kids who had a celebrity for a parent. This city was
swarming with them when I was young. They lived in big mansions behind high
walls and we were shuffled to Section 14, one square mile in the middle of the
city. When the city decided to develop it, some people would go to work and
return home to find their homes had been bulldozed. The only time I felt like I
belonged was when I went to play with my cousins in the High Desert.
I am a member of the
Shotowa Tribe and my ancestors have lived in the Coachella Valley for thousands
of years. We were the original immigrants, when this land was wide open. Now
it’s time for a little history lesson. I believe it is important that we learn
the history of this country good and bad. Native American tribes were always
considered sovereign nations which usually meant we were on our own.
Ultimately the secret of
my success did lie in my heritage because in 1987 the supreme court decided a
tribe could have gambling. I was born into the right tribe. It was like we won
the lottery not the mega millions but one that will pay your bills. It allows
us to offer educational and job opportunities for our members. Maybe a casino
isn’t a fair trade since we lost a whole country to illegal immigrants but it’s
a start. But it feels pretty good to be the tribal chairman. It was a thrill to
be introduced to Queen Elizabeth as the leader of the Shotowa. Not bad for a
kid raised in Section 14. Today our story is in the Smithsonian.
I know that there are
casinos all over Southern California now, but in the early days opening a
casino wasn’t easy. We had to sneak slot machines in at two a.m. For the first
few years we lived in fear of the feds shutting us down, Then the voters of
California made it legal under Proposition 5.
I know everyone tells
you get your education but when I left this place more school was the last
thing on my mind. I joined the Marines and stayed there for about ten years and
one divorce. But when I returned home with no career path, I went to work at a Native
bingo hall. I learned owning a casino was like printing money. I had found my
calling. I could help do good things for the Shotowa Tribe.
I pledged that if the tribal
council would send me to college for business I would find a way for us to open
a casino. This time I studied hard because it was my idea and I couldn’t let
the tribe down. My most helpful class turned out to be business etiquette. I
learned how to have a meal with potential investors and more importantly how to
listen and when to speak. Because in life it’s all about the relationships you
create. Always surround yourself with good people.
I will leave you with
this piece of advice. Try not to dwell in the past. If Native Americans felt
like that we would never get up in the morning. Your story will contain twists
and turns which will make for an interesting life. You have to lose a few times
to appreciate winning.
I start each day anew and thank Mother Earth for her bounties. I ask her how can I best help the Tribe. We live in a beautiful place and we need to care for it. Go out in the world and make your mark, take advantage of all the opportunities life gives you. You may not be the smartest or the richest, I sure wasn’t. But you are the only you, and you have your own story to write.
Cara Bertoia is the author of the critically acclaimed Casino Queen, a new suspense novel published by The Wild Rose Press. She has drawn from her years in the casino industry to create a fascinating thriller. It is all true although the names have been changed to protect the guilty. It had been featured at The Big Thrill and Women Writers Women's Books and at many other sites. Read the blurb here.
Caroline Popov, alone, heartbroken, and deeply in debt ends up in glamorous Palm Springs, California where Native casinos have just opened, offering employment to thousands. She lands a job at the Palm Oasis Casino and is mentored by the charismatic tribal chairman, John Tovar.
Embraced by casino culture, Caroline works her way up to casino manager of the Night Hawk, in the High Desert town of Joshua Tree. There, she is responsible for managing multicultural team members, satisfying the demands of challenging guests, growing revenue while rooting out corruption.
In the process of rediscovering her inner strength, she learns, you have to gamble like your life depends on it. With her life on the line can she pull out a win?
Click the link below to order at Amazon, enjoy your stay at the Night Hawk!
Casino Queen by Cara Bertoia | NOOK Book (eBook) | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)
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To check out my interview in The Big Thrill, click the link below.
Casino Queen by Cara Bertoia | THE BIG THRILL
