Michigan Indian – Page 87

Fletcher Talk at Traverse City History Center This Saturday

September 18, 2012Matthew L.M. Fletcher

I will be discussing my book “The Eagle Returns: The Legal History of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.”

Postcard here (RSVPs encouraged):

Legends_PCi-3

Job Posting: Tribal Attorney for Keweenaw Bay Indian Community

September 14, 2012September 14, 2012Kate Fort

Details here (pdf).

To serve as general in-house counsel for the Keweenaw Bay Tribal Council.
Provides legal advice and assistance to the Keweenaw Bay Tribal Council, tribal administrators, program and enterprise directors/managers.
Prepares legal documents. Acts as agent of the Tribal Council in various transactions.
Provides counsel and representation on treaty right issues: hunting, fishing, trapping and gathering, taxation, environment, and civil regulations.
Represents Tribal Council in court and before quasi-judicial or administrative agencies. Provides legal counsel and representation on Indian Child Welfare matters.
Maintains and revises the Tribal Code. Drafts, reviews, revises and acts as consultant in regard to tribal legal codes and legislation.
Reviews and assists in revision of personnel manuals, policies and procedures to ensure compliance with tribal and applicable federal laws.
Supervises Legal Department clerical staff, and may act as Tribal Prosecutor (if appointed by Tribal Council).
Reviews all tribal contracts for legal sufficiency in conjunction with the tribes’ Chief Financial Officer. Represents the tribe in regard to land acquisition, including fee to trust applications.
Serves on advisory committees relative to economic and financial development, environmental concerns, employee benefits and employment policies.
Performs other related duties as directed by the Tribal Council and assigned by the Tribal President.

State of Michigan Sues Sault Tribe over Lansing Casino Proposal

September 7, 2012September 10, 2012Matthew L.M. Fletcher3 Comments

Here are the materials in State of Michigan v. Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians (W.D. Mich.):

Complaint

State Motion PI

State Brief PI

State Brief PI Ex A Compact

State Brief PI Ex B Resolution

State Brief PI Ex C CDA

State Brief PI Ex D Letter

State Brief PI Ex E Web page

State Brief PI Ex F Gaming Ordinance

Shame on Eastern Michigan “Eagles”

September 7, 2012September 7, 2012Matthew L.M. Fletcher5 Comments

Eastern Michigan University has become the first university, as far as we know, to regress on the question of the use of American Indian names and mascots for sports purposes.

What value is upheld in bringing back an Indian mascot that the University long, long ago walked away from? The desire of some alumni to recall a past that never really existed?

It must be remembered that the Hurons, or Wyandotte nation, were forcibly removed by the United States to lands in the west at great personal and cultural cost to that community. Now their suffering will be embraced for fun and games by the EMU marching band, all at the request of alums who apparently have no knowledge of this history.

From the article:

It also comes as EMU continues to reach out to alumni who still refer to the teams as Hurons.

“It’s no secret there are still those disenfranchised people from the logo change,” said Daniel Mathis, interim executive director of EMU Alumni Relations. “It still comes up at pretty much anywhere we travel the country. … There are still people who say, ‘I will never give a dollar until they change it back.'”

The Oklahoma Wyandotte Nation’s chief (Billy Friend) also embraces the restoration of the logo. This highlights the complication. The emotional and political pain arising from EMU’s change more than 20 years ago is forgotten, just as the tribe’s history is neglected.

What’s going on here?

Save the Date — “The Secret Life of Tribal Courts: How to Run a Successful Community-Based Court”

September 4, 2012Kate Fort

Hosted by the Michigan Indian Judicial Association and Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, October 11-12.

2012 ILPC Annual Conference–Off Reservation Gaming in Michigan

August 30, 2012Kate Fort

October 19th, at the Law College in East Lansing.

Registration here.

Schedule & additional details here.

Poster by Ken Akini, ILPC Fellow.

Beadwork by Mary Hemenway, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians

Article on Pokagon Band’s Development in Northern Indiana

August 30, 2012Kate Fort

Here.

The plan submitted to the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs also proposes a casino, hotel, meeting space and parking garage, although Pokagon Band chairman Matt Wesaw said the tribe’s focus was on providing services for about 500 members living in the area.

“There’s no time frame for the casino yet. It’s not really on the burner,” Wesaw told the South Bend Tribune for a story Wednesday.

The tribe opened its Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo, Mich., about 30 miles from South Bend, five years ago. It has since opened a smaller satellite casino in Hartford, Mich., and is preparing to open another in Dowagiac, Mich.

“We’ve accomplished a fair amount of stuff for our citizens who live in the state of Michigan,” Wesaw told WNDU-TV. “It is now time to be in a position to provide those services for our citizens who live in the service area in Indiana.”