We’ve posted a new Occasional Paper on our Occasional Paper website. The paper, Criminal Jurisdiction in Indian Country: The Solution of Cross Deputization, was primarily written by second and third year law students in our Indigenous Law and Policy Center class. They researched and analyzed both issues of criminal jurisdiction and cross deputization agreements with a focus on Michigan and Michigan tribes.
Michigan Indian
White Feather Wellness Project
From the Petoskey News-Review:
PELLSTON — A proposal to create a place of healing for troubled youth at the former Camp Pellston got words of encouragement Saturday from legislators and some local residents.
The White Feather Wellness Project hosted an open house at the former corrections camp west of Pellston, which the state shut down in 2002.
White Feather, which includes members of several Indian tribes and other community members, would like to convert the camp to a residential treatment facility that would use Native American teachings in treating teens facing substance abuse and other difficulties.
Pokagon Revenue Sharing Dispute News Coverage
From the Michigan City News-Dispatch:
NEW BUFFALO, Mich. – The slowing economy is not keeping people away from the Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo Township, which collected about $146.6 million in slot machine revenue over the six-month period that ended March 30.
Figures released by the Michigan Gaming Control Board show that the casino, owned by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, is taking in $24.4 million a month in slot machine revenue.
The monthly total has not changed from the amount estimated using figures covering August and September 2007, the casino’s first two months of operation.
Because it is privately held, the casino does not release figures on its total revenue from its hotel, restaurants, bars, poker and other games.
Milward on Tribal Criminal Justice in Wicazo Sa Review
David Milward has published “Not Just the Peace Pipe but also the Lance: Exploring Different Possibilities for Indigenous Control Over Criminal Justice” in the Wicazo Sa Review.
Ojibewe Language Preservation at Saginaw Chippewa Tribe
From The Morning Sun:
Tribe strives to preserve Ojibwe language
By PATRICIA ECKER
Sun Staff Writer
Many Native American communities are realizing that the languages of their ancestors and the unique dialect of their regions are disappearing.
In 2005, the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe did an assessment of the Ojibwe language use within its community and discovered that the number of fluent speakers was very low.
“There’s still hope,” Ojibwe language immersion specialist Bonnie Ekdahl said. “There are still ways we can preserve the language.”
New Chairman for Sault Ste. Marie Tribe
From the tribal press release via Soo Today:
2008 general election results
SAULT STE. MARIE, ON – The Sault Tribe membership will welcome in a new chairman this year. Darwin (Joe) McCoy successfully defeated incumbent Chairperson Aaron Payment 3,853 to 3,495 to become the fourth chairperson of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
“I am really humbled about how things turned out. I look forward to working with our team members, the new and existing board members, and working for our tribal members. I would also like to thank all my supporters and look forward to bringing the tribe into better times,” stated Chairman-Elect Joe McCoy.
Articles on BMIC and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe Bills
BMIC and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe Bills Defeated in the House
Congressional Vote Today on BMIC and Sault Tribe Gaming Bills
From The Hill:
Pelosi to grant vote on Indian gaming bill benefiting Rep. Dingell’s district
By Susan Crabtree
Posted: 06/24/08 07:08 PM [ET]
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is giving Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) a full House vote Wednesday on a nettlesome Indian gaming bill he’s been pushing for years as a surefire way to help out his cash-strapped district.
Dingell and his allies tried — albeit unsuccessfully — to insert it into various legislative vehicles despite an onslaught of complaints from high-profile opponents and others, such as convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who were stalwartly against congressional intervention in the issue.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), then the chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs panel investigating Abramoff’s Indian gambling lobbying scandal, was infuriated by an effort to parachute the language into an early version of the 2005 highway bill. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), at Dingell’s urging, had placed the language deep within the massive transportation measure as early as 2003.
Chairman Payment’s Rejoinder to Rep. Conyers
From the Freep:
Tribal land plan is fair deal for all of state
With Michigan’s unemployment rate continuing to lead the nation, we are disappointed that a congressman from Detroit opposes legislation that would create more than 6,000 good union jobs for his city, county and state (“No special deals for tribal casinos,” June 24).Even more disappointing, U.S. Rep. John Conyers’ letter included inaccurate information about the legislation.
The legislation (HR4115 and HR2176) would create a settlement that compensates the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and Bay Mills Indian Community for lands stolen from our ancestors more than 120 years ago.
Turtle Talk 
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