Here is the news article.
Congrats to Troy!!!!
Troy Eid Added to Indian Law and Order Commission
Here is the news article.
Congrats to Troy!!!!
News
Dale Kildee Opposes Bay Mills Off-Rez Casino Efforts
Here is the article.
Profile on Gun Lake and Other Potawatomi Casinos in Southwest Michigan
Here is the article, thanks to A.K. And an excerpt:
In the early 1990s, two Native American tribes in Southwest Michigan were working to gain federal recognition and open casinos. John Shagonaby, then in his early 20s, saw this and decided to enroll at Western Michigan University, earn a business degree and help his tribe do the same thing.
About 15 years later, the Gun Lake Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi are on the eve of opening the Gun Lake Casino, an 83,000-square-foot gaming hall in Wayland Township that promises to make casino gambling more convenient to hundreds of thousands in West Michigan.
By next New Year’s Eve, you could be there.
While there has been significant opposition, the number of casinos within a short drive of the region’s population centers of Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Kalamazoo is poised for further growth as a new decade dawns.
Two casinos have opened in the past three years, two more will open next year, and another may open in the next three years.
More casinos mean more options for area gamblers, but it also may mean greater competition for gaming dollars, making efficient management essential, experts say.
“It’s supply and demand,” said Jacob Miklojcik, president of Lansing economic development consulting firm Michigan Consultants. “For many years there was a lot of demand and not much supply. That’s changing now.”
But Shagonaby and the Gun Lake Tribe aren’t interested in talking about competition or what other casinos are doing. After a 10-year fight, they’re just glad to be nearing the finish line.
“There were a lot of ups and downs in the road but we made it through it,” he said. “So it will be even sweeter when we swing the doors open.”
News Coverage of LRB Tribal Law Labor Deal
Here.
Stockbridge-Munsee/New York Gaming Compact
Available here, along with a news report on it, via Pechanga.
Also, here: 46046842-Stock-Bridge-Munsee-Compact
LTBB Council Sends Letter to MGCB to “Clarify” Incentive Payment Issue
Here is the article, via Pechanga.
An excerpt:
The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Tribal Council has sent a clarification letter to the state regarding a statement made last month by Tribal Chairman Ken Harrington.
In early November, Harrington told various media outlets that Bay Mills Indian Community’s recently opened casino in Vanderbilt violated an agreement that the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians has in a compact with the state.
In response to this alleged violation, Harrington then announced that his tribe would discontinue making its annual 6 percent economic incentive payment to the state’s strategic fund — which according to the Michigan Gaming Control Board was $2,536,160.32 in 2009.
During an emergency meeting on Nov. 10, the tribal council then voted 8-1 to have Jim Bransky, the tribe’s general council, draft a letter to “clarify” the tribe’s position with the state, regarding its 6 percent economic incentive payment.
The letter, which was drafted and sent to Eric T. Bush, administrative manager for the Michigan Gaming Control Board on Nov. 10, states: “The tribal council would like to clarify that the final decision as to whether the (6 percent) economic incentive payment has been suspended will be made in February 2011, when the 2010 payment is due.
“The decision will be based on a careful analysis of the pertinent compact provisions in light of the opening of Bay Mills Indian Community’s Vanderbilt casino, as that situation unfolds.”
The tribal council goes on to state that, in the meantime, it will continue to set aside the money to make its payment to the state.
The morning after the tribal council’s emergency meeting, Harrington sent out an e-mail to all tribal council members, stating that their actions would have a “negative impact” on the tribe.
His e-mail, dated Nov. 11, reads: “Reverse action like this makes our tribe look divided and weak … what I’m seeing is reactive tribal council activity. I want us to work together.”
Tribal Nations Conference on Talk of the Nation
A few days old, but here’s the transcript of the call-in show from just before Christmas. The guest is James Ramos, Chair at San Manual. Jill from LTBB called in to bring up President Bush’s flubbing of the definition of tribal sovereignty. Here’s the excerpt:
CONAN: James Ramos is chairman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, with us from California. 800-989-8255. Email: talk@npr.org. We want to hear from American Indian listeners today: What challenges do you face from the federal government? Jill is on the line, calling from Grand Rapids in Michigan. Hello, Jill, are you there?
JILL (Caller): Hi. I’m here. Hello.
CONAN: Yeah. You’re on the air. Go ahead, please.
JILL: Okay. I just want to say that I was pretty flabbergasted when President George Bush was asked what tribal sovereignty was, and all he could say was that it meant to be sovereign. I think with Obama, things are looking a little better. But tribal sovereignty is something that’s fought very hard for. My tribe wasn’t recognized, I don’t think, until 1993 or 1994. And I’m so thankful for what they did. It really opened a lot of doors for me. And I was able to go to college and so.
CONAN: Well, which tribe is that, Jill?
JILL: Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians in Harbor Springs, Michigan.
Uniting Three Fires Against Violence Opens in the U.P.
From the Soo Evening News (miigwetch to A.K.):
A new independent agency recently opened its doors to bring coordinated help to those who endeavor to prevent and address domestic violence among Michigan’s 12 federally recognized tribes.
While the organization has been in existence for about a year under a planning grant, Uniting Three Fires Against Violence (UTFAV) recently hung its shingle at its headquarters at 531 Ashmun Street in the Sault. The offices are adjacent to the River of History Museum.
“We are a coalition for all 12 tribes to act as a training source, technical assistance and resource center,” said Executive Director Kellie LaVictor.
“There was no spot in Michigan where all the tribes could turn to for any assistance whether it was policy development, grant writing, training or presenting, providing resources and so on.”
She said the help tribes receive through UTFAV is tailored to their needs and includes tribes with more developed anti-domestic violence programs helping tribes lacking them.
The organization’s stated mission is to unite and empower American Indian communities in Michigan to end domestic violence and sexual assault, to collaboratively promote positive change for individuals experiencing violence or abuse and provide resources for safety and advocacy to ensure the physical, mental, spiritual and emotional well-being of American Indians victimized by violence.
Proposed transfer of national park land to Quileutes would allow tribe to move from tsunami zone
Here’s the article from Seattle Times: Outdoors | Transfer of park land would let Quileutes move from tsunami zone | Seattle Times Newspaper.
Landless Cowlitz Tribe to Receive Reservation in Southwestern Washington
Here’s the article from the Seattle Times: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013768567_cowlitzcasino26m.html
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