Michigan Indian

GTB Moves to Intervene in Asian Carp Suit

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From Indianz:

The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians filed a motion to join a lawsuit over Asian carp, an invasive species.

Five states are suing the federal government and the city of Chicago over efforts to limit the impact of the carp. The tribe wants to ensure that its treaty rights are protected throughout the litigation.

“Historically, fishing played a central role in the spiritual and cultural framework of Native American life,” the tribe said in the brief, the Associated Press reported. “Not only are the Great Lakes fish culturally important to the tribes, these communities depend upon fisheries resources for their livelihoods.”

A hearing in the case is set for September 7.

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Michigan Indian Day Information and Registration Forms

Kate Fort

Ashley Harding, former Program Coordinator at the ILPC, has done an amazing amount of work for this year’s Michigan Indian Day program.  We know the whole day will be great, but are sure some will be very interested in the second keynote speaker.

During the administration of Governor William G. Milliken, the Legislature designated the fourth Friday of September as Michigan Indian Day (Act 30 of 1974, Section 435.161). To honor this day in the State of Michigan, the Michigan Indian Day Planning Committee through the Ingham County Health Department’s Native American Outreach Program is proud to announce the 9th Annual Michigan Indian Day Event, entitled Strengthening Health, Strengthening Families: Empowering Indigenous Communities.

The event will be taking place Friday, September 24 at the Hannah Community Center in East Lansing, Michigan. The conference this year will be discussing health inequity and health disparities among the American Indian/First Nations populations of Michigan.

Our keynote speakers will be:

Stacy A. Bohlen, Executive Director, National Indian Health Board (NIHB), Washington, D.C.

Daniel Levy, Director of Law & Policy at the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. He will be discussing recent changes made to the Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver and the American Indian/First Nations populations this is affecting.

Workshop discussions include:
– Urban Native youth programming and its importance,
– Tobacco use among American Indians
– Tackling health inequity and why,
– Indian child welfare updates,
– Tribes and environmental justice issues,
– and MORE…

Costs
The cost of registration is $30 for the General Public and $15 for Students and Elders. Registration costs include materials, refreshments and lunch. No cash will be accepted.

Scholarships
Scholarships are available for students and elders (55 & up). Due to the limited number of scholarships, the committee will be taking these applications on a first come first serve basis.

Registration
Participants have the opportunity to register online or print off the registration form and mail it. Registration forms mailed must include payment. For those who register online, payment must be received within two weeks of registration. Please note the registration deadline is Friday, September 17.

Webpage
http://hd.ingham.org/other-services/native-american-outreach-program/michigan-indian-day-/mid-registration-2010.aspx

Questions
If there are any questions, please contact Ashley Harding at 517.272.4127 or by email at aharding@ingham.org

We hope to see you in attendance.

Registration Form
Registration Form-Elder Scholarship

Registration Form-Student Scholarship

News Coverage on LRB Gaming Compact

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From Indianz:

The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians of Michigan is weighing its options after a compact for an off-reservation casino failed to come up for a vote last week. The tribe plans to build a casino in Fruitport Township. The site is about 80 miles from the tribe’s headquarters but it’s within the tribe’s nine-county service area. The compact survived a series of hearings but it appeared to be headed for a negative vote last week. Lawmakers have until December 31 to vote on the agreement. “We’re going to weigh the options and strategies we have before us,” Robert Memberto, the tribe’s commerce director, told The Muskegon Chronicle. Separately, the tribe needs approval for its land-into-trust application.

Get the Story:
Fruitport Township’s casino future uncertain after failed vote (The Muskegon Chronicle 8/30)

Little River Band’s Fruitport Casino Compact Not Discharged From Committee

Kate Fort1 Comment

Yesterday the Michigan House had to clear the board to prevent a huge loss on the vote to discharge the compact (a concurrent resolution) from the Reg Reform committee.  The Muskegon Chronicle has the news story:

Fruitport casino plan gets the cold shoulder from Michigan House of Representatives

Published: Thursday, August 26, 2010, 12:33 AM     Updated: Thursday, August 26, 2010, 1:11 AM by Eric Gaertner

FRUITPORT TOWNSHIP — The chances of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians building a casino at the former Great Lakes Downs racetrack site suffered a setback Wednesday.The state House, which is required to concur with a compact amendment allowing the tribe to open an off-reservation casino in Muskegon County, failed to even approve the discharge of the resolution from committee.

State Rep. Doug Bennett’s request to have his bill discharged was on the verge of defeat during a House floor vote Wednesday when he had the board cleared and his request withdrawn. Greg McCullough, Bennett’s legislative aide, said the roll-call vote was at 53-13 against the discharge when Bennett withdrew his request. Bennett, D-Muskegon Township, introduced the bill in April.

Even if the discharge vote had been approved, the resolution still would require a full House vote on whether to concur with the compact amendment signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Little River Band Ogema Larry Romanelli earlier this year.

McCullough called Wednesday’s vote frustrating. Fruitport Township Supervisor Brian Werschem said it was beyond disappointing.

“The delay continues,” Werschem said. “I’m a little surprised that the Legislature would stall economic development in West Michigan. We were looking at bringing jobs, entertainment and dollars to this community.”

Robert Memberto, Little River Band’s commerce director, criticized House Speaker Andy Dillon for listening to lobbyists, other tribes worried about competition for their casinos and the Detroit corporate casinos. Dillon, D-Redford, ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for governor.

“Speaker Dillon is playing politics with jobs,” Memberto said.

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Pointless Statistic of the Week: Michigan Indian Gaming Revenue by Slot Machine

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Well, pointless is a bit harsh, but this listing doesn’t take into account overall revenue, which is a more accurate indicator.

From the Kalamazoo Gazette, via Pechanga:

After reporting yesterday on slot machine revenue at FireKeepers Casino and Four Winds Casino, I thought it would interesting to see how Michigan’s 11 Native American tribal casino owners stack up in terms of revenue from slot machines.

Below is a ranking of casino-owning tribes by average revenue per slot machine per month.

Note that it’s not quite an apples-to-apples comparison because operators report slot machine revenue for the different time periods.

All data come from the Michigan Gaming Control Board.

$8,638 per machine per month

$7,201

$5,393

$5,154

$4,028

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News Article on Saginaw Chippewa Membership Dispute in Tribal Court

Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

From the Mt. Pleasant Morning Sun, via Pechanga:

Mt. Pleasant attorney Paula Fisher says she is pleased with her victory in Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Appellate Court on Aug. 16.

The Tribe’s Court of Appeals reversed the decisions of past Tribal Councils, the Tribe’s Office of Administrative Hearings and the Tribe’s Community Court said Fisher.

“The Tribe had previously taken the position it would not honor its own Tribal blood quantum certifications,” said Fisher, attorney for Tappen and Ayling. “That resulted in Tribal applicants who were born to Tribal members who had at least one half degree Indian blood quantum, not being allowed to use their parents to prove their members (eligibility).

“The Tribe has taken the position for the last several years that one half of one half does not equal one quarter.”

Chief Judge Kevin K. Washburn, Associate Judges Robert Kittecon, and Dennis Peterson issued an opinion and an order that would allow Dennis Tappen, Angela Ayling and Skykur Graveratte “due process rights” with their applications for Tribal enrollment.

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Update on Asian Carp Suit

Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

From the CSM:

A judge on Monday scheduled hearings in an Asian carp case for September – a decision that will allow five Midwestern states to call on expert testimony. The five states are seeking to close two Chicago canals in a bid to stop Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes. A federal judge has set Sept. 7, 2010 as the next hearing in a multistate lawsuit demanding tougher action to prevent Asian carp from overrunning the Great Lakes. The five Midwestern states suing to keep Asian carp – the behemoths that gorge on plankton and leap 10 feet in the air – out of the Great Lakes claimed to score a legal victory Monday.

On Monday, a federal judge held an initial hearing and scheduled more hearings for expert testimony in early September. The Michigan attorney general’s office heralded the decision, since it will be the first time the case is heard on its merits. The Supreme Court earlier this year declined to take up the case.

The goal of the lawsuit is to force Chicago to shut down two locks except in cases of emergency, preventing Asian carp from using the canals to reach the Great Lakes. That plan has met with with fierce resistance from barge and tour boat operators.

But with carp DNA showing up near Lake Michigan and a bighead carp found in June just six miles from the lake – and beyond the electronic barrier that is supposed to keep it out – a number of groups are calling for drastic action before the fish can infiltrate the Great Lakes with potentially dire consequences.

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Nottawaseppi Huron Pays Back Loan Early

Kate Fort

From the Kalamazoo Gazette:

Alex Nixon

EMMETT TOWNSHIP — The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, the Native American tribe that owns FireKeepers Casino, said today it paid off a $35 million loan four years earlier than its due date.

According to a press release, the loan was used to purchase FireKeepers’ 2,680 slot machines.

The tribe paid off the loan on Aug. 12, a year after the casino in Emmett Township opened its doors. The casino is located on Interstate 94, just east of Battle Creek.

“Paying off this loan four years in advance attests to the success of FireKeepers Casino,” Tribal Chairperson Homer A. Mandoka said in the release. “The Tribal Council accomplished this on behalf of its 1,146 tribal members.”

The $300 million casino employs 1,500 workers. It’s owned by the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, but managed by a separate company, Gaming Entertainment Michigan LLC. Gaming Entertainment is a joint venture between Full House Resorts Inc.  and RAM Entertainment LLC, a privately owned investment company.

The tribe also contributed four percent of the casino’s slot revenues to the State of Michigan.

News Coverage of Sault Tribal Members’ Illegal Treaty Fishing

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From the Daily Press, via Pechanga:

MANISTIQUE – The tribal judge who sentenced three members of the Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa Tribe of Indians for violating their fishing rights, described Friday’s hearing as a “sad day” for the tribe.

Andrew, Kevin and John Schwartz, all brothers from Rapid River, were found in violation of the majority of 105 citations issued against them in connection with an illegal commercial fishing operation in early 2009. The Department of Natural Resources investigated the illegal dealings.

On Friday, the Honorable Chief Judge Jocelyn K. Fabry revoked each of the three defendants’ fishing privileges and ordered each pay thousands of dollars in fines, costs, and restitution. In her concluding statements, the judge commented on the damage done to the environment as well as the tribe’s reputation.

“The effect on the natural resources of the area may not ever be determined,” Fabry said, describing where the violations occurred as one of the best walleye fishing areas in the state.

“This is a sad day for the tribe,” she added. “It gives tribal members a black eye in the community.”

Following the sentencing at the tribal center in Manistique, Special Prosecutor Monica Lubiarz-Quigley, representing the tribe, agreed with the judge.

“I think the judge’s comments were very, very appropriate,” Lubiarz-Quigley said outside the court. “Her comments reflect the majority of the feelings of the tribe and the board. I think she was absolutely right.”

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Batchewana First Nation Remains Repatriated by Smithsonian

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From the Sault Star:

CLICK HERE to watch a video

The remains of six Batchewana First Nation ancestors returned home Thursday after a 135-year absence.

Chief Dean Sayers said the return of the remains from the United States marked a “moving forward,” for Batchewana.

“We want our kids to have good memories,” said Sayers. “This is one of those good memories that they’re going to be able to tell their children and their grandchildren and their grandchildren.”

A crowd lined the St. Mary’s River as a box containing the remains of three men and three women was paddled from Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., to Bellevue Park in a 20-foot birch bark canoe. The remains were then loaded in a vehicle for transport to a traditional burial ground at Batchewana’s Goulais Mission reserve.

Thursday was the first time the Smithsonian Institution has been involved in transferring human remains back to Canada.

The unidentified Anishnabek as well as four associated funerary objects, had been unearthed from unknown cemetery sites at or near Sault Ste. Marie in 1875 by the U.S. Army surgeon at nearby Fort Brady for the purpose of scientific research.

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