Here is the brief (courtesy of Indianz) — ussg-opposition
United States Files Brief in Opposition to MichGO Cert Petition
Here is the brief (courtesy of Indianz) — ussg-opposition
Michigan Indian
GTB Compensation Committee Sues over Councilor Pay
From Indianz:
The outgoing chairman of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan is being sued in tribal court over salaries of tribal council members.
The tribe’s Compensation Committee set the base council salaries at $60,000. Those serving as vice chair, secretary and treasure were supposed to receive base pay of $65,000. But right before this year’s election, chairman Robert Kewaygoshkum set higher salaries for some council members, according to the suit filed by the Compensation Committee. Kewaygoshkum reportedly makes around $100,000. Kewaygoshkum was defeated by Derek Bailey after a second election was held in September.
Get the Story:
Suit targets tribal head over new salary levels (The Leelanau News 12/15)
Michigan Indian Legal Services Fall-Winter 2008 Newsletter
Here it is — mils-newsletter-fall-2008
It features an article by Karrie Wichtman, a Sault Tribe member and an MSU law student, called “Cooperative Law Enforcement Agreements: An Indian Country Law Enforcement Solution.”
Gun Lake Band’s Opposition to MichGO’s Cert Petition
Is here — gun-lake-band-cert-opposition
MichGO’s cert petition is here, as are links to the lower court materials.
Larry Plamondon and the Keith Case Redux
Larry Plamondon, a member of the Grand River Band of Ottawa Indians, is profiled in the new paper by Trevor Morrison on the Supreme Court case, United States v. District Court (the Keith case, named after Judge Damon Keith). Here is a link to the paper (via Legal History Blog), which is part of the Presidential Power Stories book.
And it’s great to see Larry’ autobiography, Lost from the Ottawa (available at Nokomis), featured in an important piece of legal scholarship.
Academic Review: Susan Gray, David Wilkins & Sheryl Lightfoot, and Siegfried Weissner
Here are a few recent scholarly articles of interest to the blog:
Susan Gray, Miengun’s Children: Tales from a Mixed-Race Family, 29:2&3 Frontiers 136 (2008) — article about the children of Northport, Michigan missionary George N. Smith
David Wilkins & Sheryl Lightfoot, Oaths of Office in Tribal Constitutions, 32 Am. Indian Q. 389 (Fall 2008)
Siegfried Weissner, Indigenous Sovereignty: A Reassessment in Light of the UN Declaration, 41 Vand. J. Int’l L. 1141 (2008)
Primer on Exercising Inland Treaty Rights
This is a great resource developed and published by Olson Bzdok and Howard.
Public Rights to Fish and Hunt on Lakes and Streams: A Primer for Michigan’s Indian Tribes
Also, here.
GTB Elections Issues Concluded
From the Record-Eagle:
PESHAWBESTOWN — The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians settled the last in a long string of election disputes, clearing the way for Derek Bailey to assume the post of tribal chairman.
Bailey is slated to take over a four-year position held by two-term Chairman Robert Kewaygoshkum, pending certification of the September election.
“I am very happy that this process is over, and I definitely look forward to being sworn in as the next tribal chairman,” Bailey said.
Kewaygoshkum, 57, defeated Bailey, 36, in the original May election, but that was overturned and Bailey won a special September election.
2008 Best of Okemos Award for Nokomis Learning Center
Nokomis Learning Center Receives 2008 Best of Okemos Award
U.S. Local Business Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement
WASHINGTON D.C., December 4, 2008 — Nokomis Learning Center has been selected for the 2008 Best of Okemos Award in the Non-Profit Organizations category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA).
The USLBA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.
Huron Nottawaseppi Gaming News — Profile of Laura Spurr
From the Western Michigan Business Review:
The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi is planning to open its FireKeepers Casino east of Battle Creek next summer.
The process of getting the land into federal trust took years, and Laura Spurr was the calm public voice of the tribe throughout. She represented the tribe with a killer sense of humor and an encyclopedic command of data.
And she can’t be bullied.
What does a tribal chairman do?
“It’s kind of similar to city or township government. We have a five-member council, all elected by the tribe, then the council selects the chairman.
“Not all tribes do it that way. Some elect the chairman directly.”
Turtle Talk 
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