Thanks to W. for sending the pdf.
Leelanau Enterprise Article on JP
Again, very nicely done by Eric Carlson.
News
Gun Lake Casino Construction Update
From Indianz:
The Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Potawatomi Indians, also known as the Gun Lake Tribe, held a topping out ceremony for the $157 million Gun Lake Casino last week.
The tribe began work on the 83,000-square-foot facility last fall. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of the summer.
The casino is located off a major interstate in Wayland Township, Michigan. Continue reading
GTB Eliminates General Counsel Position
We agree with John Wernet.
From the Record-Eagle:
Published: February 03, 2010 08:05 am
Longtime GT Band attorney let go
By BILL O’BRIEN
bobrien@record-eagle.com
SUTTONS BAY — The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians cut ties with longtime legal counsel John Petoskey.
The band’s Tribal Council on Monday voted to “restructure” its legal department and make its general counsel a contracted position. The move effectively ended Petoskey’s 23-year tenure with the band.
“They said it was a restructuring, but in my view it wasn’t a restructuring,” Petoskey said Tuesday. “They wanted to get rid of me.”
The move was approved with votes from tribal councilors Sandra Witherspoon, David Arroyo and Rebecca Woods. Councilor Sandy Anderson abstained, and council members Brian Napont and Connie TwoCrow were absent.
Tribal Chairman Derek Bailey only votes to break a tie on the council, and declined comment Tuesday on the council’s decision.
“For me, the vote has been made,” Bailey said. “The action has been put in place.”
Petoskey said the decision was discussed in a closed session Monday that he did not attend. He informed other tribal staff of the move in an e-mail Monday afternoon.
“I have been dismissed by the Council with notice that my last day is Feb. 28,” Petoskey said in the brief note. He asked for any pending legal matters to be forwarded to the band’s legal department to assure a “smooth transition” to a new staff.
Petoskey described a deteriorating relationship with the tribal council in recent months. He would not cite specifics because of his attorney-client relationship with the council, but said he witnessed an increasing number of closed sessions on various topics. He said he urged officials to be more open and transparent.
“We had real differences of opinion on how the council elected to do things … it was not advice that was accepted,” Petoskey said. “As far as I know, it’s not an example of (me) doing something wrong.”
Petoskey said his annual salary is just over $100,000, but doubts the band will realize any cost savings by shifting to contracted legal help.
“A contract attorney is going to cost much more than the work that I do,” he said.
John Wernet, deputy legal counsel for Gov. Jennifer Granholm and her liaison to Michigan’s Indian tribes, described Petoskey as “one of the most-respected tribal attorneys in the country.”
“I have the utmost respect for his knowledge, ability and integrity,” Wernet said.
Petoskey said he enjoyed his career working for the band. It evolved from a small Indian tribe that operated on a shoestring budget for years after its federal recognition in 1980 to a major economic powerhouse and employer in northern Michigan that runs two casinos and the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa.
“It’s certainly been rewarding,” Petoskey said. “I’m from here, I spent my whole life working here.
“Years ago the band was nothing. Now it’s something,” he said.
“Expert” on Sweat Lodges Opines in HuffPo
Jonathon Ellerby answers questions about sweat lodges to respond to the deaths at the James Ray sweat lodge. While Ellerby does attempt to distinguish between non-Native and Native sweat lodges, and discuss the cultural appropriation problems with new age sweat lodges, commenter Nishnabe replies succinctly:
“More Indians and minorities on Huffpo would negate the need to find ‘experts.’ Geesh.”
Sad, Sad Day: Howard Zinn Dies
From the NYTs:
Howard Zinn, an author, teacher and political activist whose book “A People’s History of the United States” became a million-selling leftist alternative to mainstream texts, died Wednesday in Santa Monica, Calif. He was 87 and lived in Auburndale, Mass.
Associated Press
Howard Zinn
Constitutional Convention at Blackfeet
For more details, see the Blackfeet Constitutional Reform website.
From the Great Falls Tribune (via Pechanga):
Blackfeet tribal members can help write their new constitution today in Browning.
A constitutional convention will be held today at Blackfeet Community College starting at 5 p.m. Participants will be broken into groups and will draft ideas on articles in the tribe’s new governing document.
A presentation of the ideas will be held later that night, and participants can refine them up until a deadline in February. The event is being put on by the Blackfeet Constitutional Reform Committee.
“The more people we can get to participate and feel ownership, the more success we will have,” said Lona Burns, committee spokeswoman. Continue reading
Revenue Sharing Distribution for Grand Traverse Band
Press release here: 2% second half 2009 press release 01-27-10.
Controversy at Little Traverse
From Indianz:
The tribal council of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians of Michigan voted 4-3 to remove two members from the gaming board of directors.
The council removed Dollie Keway and Fred Kiogima in a surprise vote, The Petoskey News-Review reported. Tribal elders had spoken in favor of the board at a council meeting on Sunday, the paper said.
Keway said the vote reflects tensions between the board and chairman Ken Harrington. She says Harrington has been interfering in the hiring process for a general manager at the Odawa Casino Resort.
Three members remain on the board.
Get the Story:
Tribal council votes out two gaming board of directors (The Petoskey News-Review 1/26)
Profile of Tom Rodgers, Native Man Who Brought Down Abramoff
Bankruptcy Court Order Confirming Greektown Reorganization Plan
Here: Greektown Order.
Turtle Talk 
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