chippewa

Derek Bailey Sworn in as New GTB Chairman

Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

From the Leelanau Enterprise:

Derek Bailey sworn in as new GTB chairman.DEREK BAILEY at last week's swearing-in ceremony.DEREK BAILEY at last week’s swearing-in ceremony.

Clutching an eagle fan believed to give a leader the courage to “speak in a good way,” the youngest tribal chairman in the history of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians stepped up to the podium on stage at the Leelanau Sands Casino Showroom Thursday afternoon immediately after being sworn in.

“This is a very emotional, powerful moment not only for me but for our entire nation,” said 36-year-old Derek Bailey.  He explained that the sacred feathers were loaned to him by his uncle, Deuce Miller.
Bailey acknowledged how long and difficult the 2008 tribal election process had been.

“To those who did not support me in the election,” Bailey said, “I will work hard to meet your needs and expectations.”

In 1980, when the tribe was finally recognized as a sovereign nation by the U.S. government, membership was around 400.  Tribal membership now exceeds 4,000.

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GTB Compensation Committee Sues over Councilor Pay

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From Indianz:

The outgoing chairman of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan is being sued in tribal court over salaries of tribal council members.

The tribe’s Compensation Committee set the base council salaries at $60,000. Those serving as vice chair, secretary and treasure were supposed to receive base pay of $65,000. But right before this year’s election, chairman Robert Kewaygoshkum set higher salaries for some council members, according to the suit filed by the Compensation Committee. Kewaygoshkum reportedly makes around $100,000. Kewaygoshkum was defeated by Derek Bailey after a second election was held in September.

Get the Story:
Suit targets tribal head over new salary levels (The Leelanau News 12/15)

Academic Review: Susan Gray, David Wilkins & Sheryl Lightfoot, and Siegfried Weissner

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are a few recent scholarly articles of interest to the blog:

Susan Gray, Miengun’s Children: Tales from a Mixed-Race Family, 29:2&3 Frontiers 136 (2008) — article about the children of Northport, Michigan missionary George N. Smith

David Wilkins & Sheryl Lightfoot, Oaths of Office in Tribal Constitutions, 32 Am. Indian Q. 389 (Fall 2008)

Siegfried Weissner, Indigenous Sovereignty: A Reassessment in Light of the UN Declaration, 41 Vand. J. Int’l L. 1141 (2008)

GTB Elections Issues Concluded

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From the Record-Eagle:

PESHAWBESTOWN — The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians settled the last in a long string of election disputes, clearing the way for Derek Bailey to assume the post of tribal chairman.

Bailey is slated to take over a four-year position held by two-term Chairman Robert Kewaygoshkum, pending certification of the September election.

“I am very happy that this process is over, and I definitely look forward to being sworn in as the next tribal chairman,” Bailey said.

Kewaygoshkum, 57, defeated Bailey, 36, in the original May election, but that was overturned and Bailey won a special September election.

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Romulus Indian Gaming News

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From the Romulus Roman:

Romulus officials hope a year-long moratorium regarding the expansion of Indian gaming that was put into place by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs will be lifted, or at least more flexible, under a Barack Obama administration.

City officials met with a representative from the Hannahville Indians last week, and all involved said they felt they would receive more consideration for the tribal request to build a casino in Romulus.

“I think that once there’re more Democrats in Washington, and more people who are interested in helping Michigan, we will turn this around,” said Romulus Mayor Alan Lambert.

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GTB Boxer Kicks Butt

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is an article about GTB member Mitch Sullivan, son of one of our contributors!

mitch-sullivan

Detroit Auto Bailout & Indian Gaming Proposals: A Link?

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Congress effectively killed the various proposals brought by the State of Michigan, the Bay Mills Indian Community, and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians to ratify off-reservation gaming agreements between the three and variously the Cities of Romulus, Flint, and Port Huron. But now that the Detroit auto makers are in the very ugly throes of near-bankruptcy, and with Congress seemingly ready to let the Big Three die, maybe the off-reservation gaming proposals will have new legs in the 111th Congress?

Several questions need answering. First, how will the Obama Administration view Indian gaming, especially off-reservation? I wonder, given that the Administration doesn’t have much to gain politically by supporting tribal gaming, but might have much to lose. Tribes need to make the Obama Administration realize the benefits of off-reservation. Second, how will off-reservation gaming in southeastern Michigan help local economies? Again, tribes need to make a strong case, and it may be the same case made to answer the first question.

Romulus Casino Talk

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From Indianz:

Officials in Romulus, Michigan, are still interested in hosting off-reservation casinos even after Congress killed a bill to authorize two tribal facilities.

Officials plan to meet with the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians to discuss reviving the casino. A deal with the Hannahville Indian Community could be in the works too. With Congress looking at ways to bail out the auto industry in Michigan and considering economic packages, officials say now is a good time to think about the casinos again.

Get the Story:
Romulus casinos are still a possibility (The Journal Newspapers 11/20)

Federal Criminal Jurisdiction over Ontonagon Reservation in the Upper Peninsula

Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

Kudos to Jeff Davis for this one! The United States Attorney’s Office in Grand Rapids is prosecuting the taking of tribal timber on trust land on the Ontonagon Reservation of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. The defendant argued the reservation was no longer reservation land, but Judge Robert Holmes Bell rejected the motion. Interesting case!

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Greektown Casino Bankrupty Materials — Motion to Extend Time

Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

Here is a selection of materials on the Greektown Holdings LLC’s motion to extend its planning period for finalize bankruptcy for 90 days. Other materials are here.

greektown-motion-to-extend-planning-period

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