Here are the appellate materials:
And here is our earlier posting on the district court case, along with all of the extensive exhibits, etc.
Michigan Indian
New Book: Anishinaabemowin Maajaamigad (The Anishinaabe Language Leaves)
Anishinaabemowin Maajaamigad (The Anishinaabe Language Leaves)
A community welcomes its veterans home from World War II and they work together to build something for the future generations and to remember the past. Authors Howard Kimewon and Margaret Noori share this story of Manitoulin Island, “the place of the spirits.” Set in 1940s, this true story of survivors of war honoring those who will never return by building an ice arena is told in both Anishinaabemowin and English.
The book contains a three-line version of the story so that readers will see and learn the meaning of each word in the Anishinaabe order. The top line is exactly as it was spoken by fluent speaker, Howard Kimewon. The second line is a direct translation of the meaning contained in the words and sometimes parts of words. The third line is the same meaning as it would be spoken by someone fluent in English. There is often a difference between the literal and literary English and clearly seeing that difference can help students understand how to think and speak in Anishinaabemowin.
For Kimewon, a teacher and author who grew up in the Murray Hill area of Wikwemikong Unceded Reserve and heard these stories passed down from generations, this is an opportunity to share both his language and his history. As a boy he skated at this rink and heard the story of how it came to be. As he told this story it was carefully transcribed and edited by Noori.
Sault Tribe to Vote on Chairman/CEO Separation
From AIPBlog:
Tonight the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians voted to have a referendum to change the Tribes Constitutional By-Laws and Separate the Chairman/CEO position into two distinct positions: one elected and one otherwise.
AIPBlog followers realize I have advocated this type of separation and cited several academic studies which indicate more positive outcomes from separating politics and business in Tribes. It is a pleasure as a member of the Sault Tribe to see some action in this direction.
Op-Ed on Pokagon Band Revenue Sharing
From Indianz:
“The release of $6.2 million in revenue sharing from the Four Winds Casino to local governmental units this month was welcome news. The schools, libraries, New Buffalo township and city, Berrien County, as well as the state of Michigan, sorely need the funds that had been accruing since the Pokagon band of the Potawatomi Indians opened the New Buffalo casino in 2007. This first revenue sharing payment was nearly a year and a half overdue. Meanwhile, the entities kept anteing up services, including police protection and road work, to support the gaming operation. This month’s distribution of funds ought to be the start of something good for both the Pokagons and the community. The cash-strapped governmental units should now receive an annual infusion of money to provide needed services. And those entities that helped establish the Four Winds will have good reason to support the Pokagons’ enterprise. ”
Get the Story:
Editorial: Governmental units win with casino payout (The South Bend Tribune 5/19)
LTBB Primary Election Results
From Indianz:
Members of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians of Michigan voted in a primary election on May 11. Incumbent chairman Frank Ettawageshik and incumbent vice chairman Bill Denemy received the most votes. They will face Ken Harrington and Dexter McNamara in the June 29 general election. Tribal members also narrowed the field for five council seats.
Get the Story:
Twelve candidates move on in the tribe’s election process (The Petoskey News-Review 5/15)
Greektown Update — Court Grants Motion to Assume Development Contract with City
Here’s the news article explaining all of this (link to Freep article). And here are the materials:
Greektown Less Likely to Sell, Given Low Bids
From the Detroit News (via Pechanga):
Greektown Casino-Hotel will spend more time looking at ways to reorganize its debts rather than selling the property to exit bankruptcy, after multiple bids came in lower than expected, a financial adviser for the gambling hall said Thursday.
Chuck Moore, an adviser from Birmingham-based Conway MacKenzie Inc., which is working on Greektown’s bankruptcy, told the Michigan Gaming Control Board at its Thursday meeting that his team would shift focus toward looking at ways the casino can reorganize some $777 million in debt.
“There was disappointment at the values of the bids we’ve seen so far,” Moore said. “Our creditors don’t believe they adequately compensate for the performance of the property.”
Saginaw Chippewa Reservation Boundaries Dispute Update
Judge Ludington has granted the motions of the United States and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe to strike the so-called “Rosebud Sioux” defenses and associated witnesses. Here are the relevant materials.
scit-motion-to-strike-rosebud-defenses
us-motion-to-exclude-rosebud-witnesses
michigan-response-to-motions-to-strike
isabella-county-response-to-motions-to-strike
mount-pleasant-response-to-motions-to-strike
scit-reply-re-motions-to-strike
Greektown Decision on Tax Rollback Due May 14
From the Detroit News:
Lawyers for Greektown Casino-Hotel and the city of Detroit will have to wait two more weeks to hear if a bankruptcy judge thinks the casino can assume a development agreement that would grant a tax rollback saving roughly $17 million annually.
At an unusually short Friday hearing, federal Judge Walter Shapero said he’ll issue his opinion on the matter at 3 p.m. on May 14.
The tax rollback issue is particularly contentious for Greektown, which entered Chapter 11 proceedings 11 months ago. By filing, Greektown was able to secure the financing it needed to complete construction on its 400-room hotel and resort complex.
Penn National Bids on Greektown Casino
From Freep (H/T Pechanga):
Penn National Gaming, Inc., a well-capitalized casino owner, has submitted a bid to purchase Greektown Casino in downtown Detroit.
Timothy J. Wilmott, president and chief operating officer of the Pennslyvania-based company, said Penn National likes the Detroit market. The company also has looked at buying assets from MGM Mirage, including the company’s MGM Grand Detroit property.
Penn National is the second bidder to confirm its interest in buying the casino that filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy about a year ago. Bloomfield Hills businessman Tom Celani also has bid on Greektown.
Greektown is actively marketing the property through the bankruptcy process. By June 1, the casino’s estate must choose one of two paths — reorganization under its current owner, the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, or a sale to a new owner.
Turtle Talk 
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