Ned Norris Jr. is chairman of the Tohono O'odham Nation.

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Journalists play a key role in our country. In return for the constitutional guarantees of freedom of the press, the public has a right to expect journalists to robustly pursue the truth and to report the news completely, accurately and without bias.

The Star recently had the opportunity to fully explore and report on the impacts of Indian gaming. It was described as a three-day piece on gaming's widespread impacts, and I was certain that our countless positive improvements would be included in its analysis.

To my dismay and disappointment, however, the Star inexplicably discounted these benefits.

As chairman of the Tohono O'odham Nation, I feel I must provide accurate information on Indian gaming.

The series started with the false premise that Congress intended that Indian gaming would eliminate federal support for tribes. To the contrary, federal law states that gaming was intended to "promote tribal economic development, self-sufficiency, and strong tribal governments," not to reduce federal support for tribes.

The Star's headline proclaimed that "Despite gaming revenue, O'odham, Yaquis remain dependent on U.S. taxpayer money." This statement is misleading, as demonstrated in the Star's own statistical analysis. The Star used two federal statistics to make its argument: funding per tribal member and food-stamp usage. Ironically, the nation has experienced measurable decreases in both areas since gaming was implemented.

The Star also referenced increases in the number of nation members relying on state-funded health care without mentioning that the nation's rate of increase was only one-quarter the rate of increase in Arizona's general population.

The Star highlights "social woes" that have not been remedied by gaming revenues, without discussing the significant improvements that gaming has brought.

Indian gaming created our Fire Department. Our Police Department has tripled in size. Gaming revenues fund the nation's sizable border-security efforts. Without gaming, the nation would have no dialysis center, no health clinics, no cultural museum, no skilled nursing facility, no new courthouse nor the thousands of new jobs funded by gaming.

The Star's follow-up article on the nation also was riddled with misrepresentations. To substantiate a claim that youth needs are unmet, you would expect a reporter to interview key officials, such as the nation's education director. This did not happen. As a result, the Star provided inaccurate information on our students and educational successes funded by gaming.

Like many communities, the nation is working to educate its youth and keep them away from the proliferation of drugs and gangs. The nation has devoted substantial resources to its youth, including funding three new Headstart facilities, five youth centers to keep kids off the streets, a Boys and Girls Club, its own fully accredited community college and full scholarships for students heading to college.

In addition to supporting its own programs, the nation provides funding to dozens of local governments and charitable organizations annually. Ask Tucson Medical Center, which received funding for a newborn incubator, or the Flowing Wells Neighborhood Association, which constructed new Little League baseball fields, if Indian gaming is working. Ask the numerous first responders, who have new vehicles and safety equipment, if gaming is working.

The nation acknowledges that it has significant needs that will take decades to fully address despite the benefits of Indian gaming, but I take umbrage with the Star's selective misuse of statistics. No impartial person could look at the benefits Indian gaming revenues have brought to the nation and report that few, if any, improvements have been made.

As chairman of the nation, I am accountable to my community for the decisions I make. The Arizona Daily Star is accountable to its readers, but there appears to be no one at the Star, including the two reporters, their editor or the managing editor, who assumed the responsibility to make sure these articles would not mislead the Star's readers.

On the nation we have a saying: We:sij T-we:m. It means, "All of us together." We believe in it, and I am committed to running our government and our gaming enterprise under that belief.

I am proud of our people. I am proud of the progress we have made. And I am proud of the contributions we are continuing to make to our members and the surrounding communities.