Here is our post on Prof. Singel’s nomination.
Michigan Indian
Lansing City Pulse: Proposed Lansing Casino Would Allow Smoking
The article is here. There’s some good reporting in there (comments from Inter-Tribal Council, a quick survey of the issue of smoking in tribal casinos, a distinction about state law not applying on tribal land, and a discussion of the negotiations around the topic):
“If they did not allow smoking, they wouldn’t be doing any of the business they’re doing now,” said Bill Cross, a partner in the development group, Lansing Future LLC. “If you take that away, it would probably take out 30 percent of the revenue, maybe even higher. That means it would have been a deal-breaker for the city, too.
“Let’s say we’re the only Native American casino in the entire state that doesn’t have smoking: It just makes it an unfair playing field,” he said.
Speaking on the new television show “City Pulse Newsmakers” on Sunday, Mayor Virg Bernero said, “Don’t let perfect become the enemy of good,” acknowledging that while he would have liked to see a smoke-free casino, it was the tribe’s decision.
“In truth, I don’t think this is a perfect proposal. I think if we wait for perfect, we’ll wait for something that may never be,” he said. “There’s lots of things to like about this proposal.”
Bernero said he “didn’t notice a heavy smell” when visiting other casinos where smoking is permitted. “Would I prefer that there was no smoking anywhere indoors? Yeah, I would. But that’s not law in Michigan. To single out Lansing would have put us at a disadvantage.” Bernero added “that’s our view” when asked if requiring the casino to be entirely smoke-free would have been a “deal-killer.”
UofM NALSA Indian Law Day: Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Under International Law
Indian Law Day 2012:
Full schedule here. (pdf)
Friday, March 30, 2012
12:00pm-3:00pm
Speakers:
Armstrong Wiggins, Indian Law Resource Director, Washington Office
Frank Ettawageshik, Executive Director of United Tribes of Michigan
Kirsten Carlson, Assistant Professor of Law at Wayne State University
Respondent’s Brief in Salazar/Gun Lake Band v. Patchak
Here:
Grand Traverse Band Council Expresses “Outrage” at Renaming of T.C. State Park after Keith J. Charters
From the letter sent yesterday to the Michigan Natural Resources Commission by the tribal council:
By motion enacted today, the Tribal Council of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (“GTB”) protests the renaming of the Traverse City State Park. The new sign proclaiming the “Keith J. Charters Traverse City State Park” is an outrage, given that Mr. Charters is responsible for an additional 825 feet of beach not being added to the park. We refer to the adjacent property immediately west of the state park beach area (including Mitchell Creek before it flows into East Bay), which is now open space and beachfront where our “Cross Creek” motel previously was located.
Here is the letter:
Little River Band Ottawa Signs Second Collective Bargaining Agreement Under Tribal Law
(March 22, 2012) Manistee, MI
Second Collective Bargaining Agreement Signed under Tribal Law
The Little River Casino Resort and the United Steelworkers Union have entered into a collective bargaining agreement covering slot machine technicians. This is the second collective bargaining agreement entered into by the Resort and the Union under tribal law. The first, involving the Resort’s security guards, was signed in December, 2010.
“Like our first agreement, this is the product of hard work and long negotiations,” said Tom Davis, General Manager at the Resort. “It reflects a lot of give and take from both sides of the bargaining table.”
In 2007, the Band enacted a law governing labor unions and collective bargaining modeled on state labor relations laws. The law allows collective bargaining within the Band’s governmental operations, which includes its gaming operations at the Little River Casino Resort. It requires unions to hold a license from the Band, and it provides a structure for resolving unfair labor practice charges. “In designing our law, we found there was much to learn from the way state governments regulate collective bargaining in the public sector,” said Tribal Council Speaker Stephen Parsons. “In the end, however, this law reflects the unique values of our Ottawa community.”
Few Indian nations have laws governing collective bargaining. The short list includes the Navajo Nation and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. “We decided that it was in the best interests of our community to give employees the right to bargain collectively,” explained Parsons. “As a sovereign tribal government, we have authority to grant employees those rights.” he said.
IPR on Pending Sault Tribe Vote over Lansing Casino Proposal
Here.
LTBB Considering Recognition of Same-Sex Marriage
Sixth Circuit Vacates Conviction in Alleged Sex Offense at Grand Traverse Band
Here is the opinion in United States v. Anderson.
IPR on the W. Great Lakes Salmon Fishery
Here.
The intro:
Managers of salmon in Lake Michigan must soon decide how many fish to put into the lake each year. The salmon fishery is a man-made industry in the Great Lakes, produced by planting millions and millions of fish in the lakes. Keeping the salmon population in balance with the food supply is a challenge these days. Some scientists are raising new questions about the salmon’s demise in Lake Huron and whether it can be stopped in Lake Michigan.
Turtle Talk 
You must be logged in to post a comment.