Turtle Talk

From the Leelanau Enterprise:

Derek Bailey sworn in as new GTB chairman.DEREK BAILEY at last week’s swearing-in ceremony.

Clutching an eagle fan believed to give a leader the courage to “speak in a good way,” the youngest tribal chairman in the history of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians stepped up to the podium on stage at the Leelanau Sands Casino Showroom Thursday afternoon immediately after being sworn in.

“This is a very emotional, powerful moment not only for me but for our entire nation,” said 36-year-old Derek Bailey.  He explained that the sacred feathers were loaned to him by his uncle, Deuce Miller.
Bailey acknowledged how long and difficult the 2008 tribal election process had been.

“To those who did not support me in the election,” Bailey said, “I will work hard to meet your needs and expectations.”

In 1980, when the tribe was finally recognized as a sovereign nation by the U.S. government, membership was around 400.  Tribal membership now exceeds 4,000.

“We all need each other now more than ever,” Bailey said.

Bailey’s swearing in ceremony culminated nearly nine months of active campaigning, election disputes, tribal court hearings, a runoff election, and even more election challenges resolved just two weeks ago by the full Tribal Judiciary panel – the tribe’s equivalent of a Supreme Court.DEREK BAILEY, center, newly sworn in as tribal chairman of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, slipped in between tribal members Fred Raphael (left) and Edmond Nevaquaya (right) to join a dozen other tribal members in traditional singing and drumming at last week’s swearing-in ceremony. In the background, the Eagletown American Legion Post provides a color guard.

With tribal court judge Holly K. Thompson administering the oath of office, hundreds of tribal members and guests looked on as Bailey took over leadership of the tribe from two-term Tribal Chairman Robert Kewaygoshkum.  The swearing in followed a prayer delivered partially in Anishnabemowin, the native language, by tribal elder Tom Peters.

The former tribal chairman was absent from the event.  Up until last month, Kewaygoshkum, 57, was actively challenging results of a special Sept. 24 runoff election in which Bailey defeated the incumbent with nearly 60 percent of the vote.

The ceremony on Thursday was introduced by tribal vice chairman David Arroyo, who acknowledged the “irregular occurrences with the election process.”   He was accompanied on stage by tribal councilors Brian Napont, Rebecca Woods and Joseph “Buddy” Raphael.

Napont was newly elected to the Tribal Council in May while Arroyo and Witherspoon were re-elected to second terms.  The three were not sworn in until July, however, because of election disputes ongoing at the time.   Four year-terms on the Tribal Council are staggered, with elections occurring every other year.
Raphael was the tribe’s first elected tribal chairman, succeeding Ardith “Dodie” Chambers, followed by George Bennett and Kewaygoshkum – making Bailey the fifth tribal chairman in the GTB’s history.
Raphael said he agreed that leadership of the tribe was clearly being handed over to a new generation.  He noted that the new tribal chairman and three of his colleagues on the Tribal Council are parents with school-age children at home.

“Anytime young people step forward like this to serve the membership, it’s a good thing,” Raphael said.

“Parents who are raising young kids have the most to win, and I wish them all success,” Raphael said.