Michigan Indian – Page 49

D.K. Sprague Retires after Twenty-Four Years as Chairman of the Gun Lake Tribe

February 4, 2016February 5, 2016Matthew L.M. Fletcher

D.K. Sprague Retires after Twenty-Four Years as Chairman of the Gun Lake Tribe

Sprague Led Tribe from Pre-Recognition to Successful Modern Tribal Government

(Bradley, Mich.) – Today, the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians (Gun Lake Tribe) (Tribe) announced the retirement of David K. (D.K.) Sprague as chairman. Sprague served as chairman since his initial election by the Bradley Settlement Elder’s Council in 1992. He is distinguished as one the longest serving tribal chairman, in consecutive terms, throughout Indian Country in the Unites States.

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve my community as chairman for the last twenty-four years,” said D.K. Sprague, former chairman. “I thank my family and the Tribe for supporting me, and God for allowing me to serve at a time when our dreams came to reality. I give recognition to our tribal leaders who came before me, as I merely finished what they started when the Bradley Indian Mission was established in the 1830s.”

The Tribe achieved federal re-acknowledgment in 1999 after many years of working through the federal acknowledgment process. The Tribe’s goal of reaching self-sufficiency through its pursuit of economic development under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act would take over a decade. During the last twenty-four years the Tribe went from having nothing to becoming a modern tribal government that can now provide for the needs of its people.

“I am proud to have served the Tribe under the leadership of D.K. Sprague,” said Vice Chairman Ed Pigeon. “I witnessed steady and consistent leadership in extremely difficult situations over a long period of time. It was amazing to see him put to the test so many times, but never waver. The Tribe is truly blessed that a person with such rare leadership qualities was in place at a time when it was most needed.”

Many friends, family and staff members have expressed their gratitude to the former chairman for his dedication to the needs of tribal government staff and the team members who work in the gaming enterprise. He was always approachable and jovial with everyone around him.

“No one ever wanted this day to come,” said Leah Sprague-Fodor, Tribal Council member. “However, asking him to continue serving would be selfish of us. We know he served with everything he had for so many years. He has earned his retirement and now he should enjoy golf, traveling, baseball games and spending time with his family and friends.”

Sprague grew up in the Bradley area where he remained most of his life. He joined the U.S. Army and served in the Vietnam War. He served in 14 natural disasters worldwide as a Red Cross volunteer, which included an extended time of service in Louisiana for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. He is a lifelong member of the Methodist Church at the Bradley Indian Mission.

In the next 90-120 days the Tribe will hold a special election to fill the seat on the Tribal Council vacated by Sprague’s retirement. Afterwards, the Tribal Council will select the next chairman. In the interim, Vice Chairman Ed Pigeon will serve as acting Chairman.

Timeline of Gun Lake Tribe events occurring under the leadership of D.K. Sprague

1992	Bradley Settlement Elder’s Council elects D.K. Sprague to serve as Chairman.
August 23, 1999	Federal re-acknowledgment by the United States as a sovereign tribal government.
August 2001	Tribe submits land-into-trust application to re-establish reservation lands for the purpose of economic development under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
January 30, 2009	Federal government takes land in trust for Tribe to construct Gun Lake Casino.
February 10, 2011	Gun Lake Casino opens.
May 14, 2014	Bradley Indian Mission Church building turns 100 years old, at that time the Mission is approx. 176 years old.
September 26, 2014	President Obama signs into law the Gun Lake Trust Land Reaffirmation Act.
October 2014	Approx. 300 acres of additional land placed into trust.
August 2015	Government Campus opens to tribal citizens and tribal government staff. Becomes the “Capitol Building” of the Gun Lake Tribe.
January 29, 2016	D.K. Sprague retires as chairman.

Fletcher & Jurss: “Tribal Jurisdiction – A Historical Bargain”

February 3, 2016February 3, 2016Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Matthew Fletcher and Leah Jurss have posted “Tribal Jurisdiction — A Historical Bargain” on SSRN.

Here is the abstract:

The existing rhetoric surrounding tribal civil jurisdiction over non-Indians often leaves out the historical foundations to that jurisdiction. This article compares the tribal economies of the 18th and 19th centuries with the current environment of gaming and economic development on tribal lands. Though non-Indians and nonmembers occasionally object to tribal jurisdiction, the long history of tribal governance and economic regulation demonstrates that nonmembers have received and continue to receive the benefit of a bargain that places them under considerable tribal regulation in exchange for access to tribal markets.

Through a detailed survey of treaties, tribal statutes, and federal laws covering pre-1970’s tribal economic regulation, this article reveals that non-Indians have continually consented to tribal jurisdiction to access these tribal markets, making outliers of the non-Indians attempting to access tribal markets without consenting to tribal market regulations. Analyzing the laws surrounding the federal and tribal licensing of Indian traders; the Great Lakes fur trade; the marriage laws of the Five Civilized Tribes; and the procedures established for dealing with intruders on Indian lands in the 18th and 19th centuries demonstrates the vast historical underpinnings of the current efforts to retain civil jurisdiction over non-Indians.

This is a work in progress, and so as usual we would be delighted for helpful constructive criticism. Miigwetch!

Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe v. Blue Cross Blue Shield Complaint

February 1, 2016Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here:

Complaint

News Profile on Little Traverse Odawa Treaty Rights Suit

January 27, 2016Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here.

En Banc Petition in Kelsey v. Pope

January 20, 2016Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

Here:

Kelsey Petition for Rehearing en Banc

Panel decision and materials here.

Nottawaseppi Huron Band Seeks Probation Officer

January 19, 2016January 18, 2016Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here:

Tribal Court Probation Officer

Sault Tribe Treaty Rights Litigation RFP

January 18, 2016Matthew L.M. Fletcher

The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians (Michigan) seeks an attorney of stature and notable experience to serve as lead counsel for the negotiation, or litigation, of a resource allocation agreement for court affirmed treaty rights, along with possible litigation regarding exterior boundaries of the ceded territory. Preference will be given to those submissions showing extensive and demonstrable experience in treaty rights litigation. To receive an RFP packet contact Aaron Schlehuber at lawaaron@saulttribe.net..

Michigan State NALSA Event — Jan. 21, 2016

January 11, 2016Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here (MSU NALSA Climate Change Event PDF):

MSU NALSA Climate Change Event Poster

Invitation to Connecting with Lawyers Networking Reception on January 28, 2016

January 4, 2016Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Happy New Year! We want to personally invite you and your colleagues to MSU COL’s Connecting with Lawyers Networking Reception on Thursday, January 28, 2016, at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, from 6:00pm-8:00pm. Come connect with current students and recent graduates. In addition to connecting with our students, you will have the opportunity to meet judges and other members of the bar. During the program, we will highlight different practice areas and geographic locations, and have giveaways every half hour. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be provided.

You can RSVP for the event, by completing this google form, https://docs.google.com/a/msu.edu/forms/d/1Ob57E4WVRWott-4f2KxFR-hDbOCFoFNe32SsoJB2kRs/viewform. If you have any questions about the event, you can contact the Career Services Office at career@law.msu.edu or (517) 432-6830. Please forward this message to your contacts and students.