Well, the Cherokee do it differently. In addition to having their tribal coffers filled to overflowing, each and every member gets a yearly check. Even the kiddies, held in trust.
Last year's check was something like 14k.
I guess it varies from tribe to tribe. Thats the only one I am very familiar with. I would agree that if the rank and file got no benefits, it would indeed s*ck.
From what I've seen, the Western States do it right. The problem is the Eastern and coastal states where land claims are basically invented out of whole cloth, in order for some flunky to buy a lot of populated land cheap and put a casino on it.