The conference, sponsored by the International Joint Commission, is happening at Wayne State University next week. Registration is still open. The event is free, though people can purchase a $50 food ticket.
Vice President Al Gore is the keynote speaker, and Frank Ettawageshik will be speaking on a plenary panel, along with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, Wednesday at 1pm.
University of Michigan NALSA
2010 Indian Law Day Schedule
Looking Inward: Tribal Governance
Blessing
1:00 – 1:10
Joseph Brave-Heart
Keynote Speaker
1:10 -1:40
Frank Ettawageshik
Former Tribal Chairman, Little Traverse Bay
Bands of Odawa Indians
Tribal Constitutions
1:45 – 2:25
Allie Maldonado, Assistant General Counsel,
Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians
Mike Phelan, Office of the General Counsel
Pokagon Band Potawatomi Indians
Tribal Courts
2:30 – 3:10
Prof. Matthew Fletcher, Michigan State University College of Law
Amy Kullenberg, Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians
Break/Refreshments
3:10 – 3:25
Tribal Economic Diversification
3:25 – 4:05
Zeke Fletcher, Associate, Rosette & Associates
Prof. Matthew Fletcher, Michigan State University College of Law
From the Battle Creek Enquirer (follow the link for pictures):
Funeral is a celebration of Laura Spurr’s life
Trace Christenson • The Enquirer • February 28, 2010
Amid eagle feathers and flowers, mourners celebrated the life Saturday of Laura Spurr.
Speaker after speaker described Spurr, the chairperson of the Tribal Council of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi, as determined and blunt but fair and always trying to help members of the tribe.
“She demanded respect for her people but was unassuming in going about that,” said Frank Ettawageshik, former Chairman of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. “Laura went out and changed the world and she came home and changed the world.”
Spurr, 64, died Feb. 19 after suffering a heart attack while attending a conference in California.
She had been active in tribal leadership since 1999 and served as council chair from 2000 to 2001 and from 2003 until her death. She was a driving force in the 10-year-long process of approval and construction by the tribe of FireKeepers Casino in Emmett Township.
From Indianz:
The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians of Michigan recently formed a corporation to pursue economic development opportunities.
Waganakising Odawa Development, Inc. is looking at two sectors: government contracting and renewable energy. Frank Ettawageshik, the president of the corporation, believes the tribe can benefit from growth in both areas.
“It’s better, I believe, to not have all your eggs in one basket with revenue sources,” Ettawageshik said at a tribal council meeting, The Petoskey News-Review reported.
So far, Waganakising has landed one government subcontract and is looking for ways to get into alternative energy.
Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians chairman Frank Ettawageshik recently lost his bid for re-election as chairman. We wish to honor Frank’s service not only to the Little Traverse Odawak but also to all of the tribes of Michigan.
Frank has been an enlightened and thoughtful ambassador for the Michigan Anishinaabek, serving as a leader on numerous tough issues such as the Great Lakes Compact, for which he won the 2007 Great Lakes Guardian of the Year award from Clean Water Action Michigan. He has testified before Congress on this issue (more testimony and still more).
He has appeared on CNN to talk about Congressional apologies to American Indians.
And at home, Frank’s administration renegotiated LTBB’s gaming compact and developed and built the Odawa Casino. He has worked on intergovernmental relations and economic development with the State of Michigan.
Frank is an amazing speaker and storyteller, as well as a leader, and he is to be honored.
Miigwetch, Frank.
From Indianz:
Members of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians of Michigan voted in a primary election on May 11. Incumbent chairman Frank Ettawageshik and incumbent vice chairman Bill Denemy received the most votes. They will face Ken Harrington and Dexter McNamara in the June 29 general election. Tribal members also narrowed the field for five council seats.
Get the Story:
Twelve candidates move on in the tribe’s election process (The Petoskey News-Review 5/15)
From the AP:
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — An American Indian tribe says bills pending in the Legislature to regulate high-volume water withdrawals would violate its rights by reducing fish populations in some rivers and streams.
Officials with other northern Michigan tribes also are raising concerns about the measures, pending in the House and Senate. The two versions are similar, but have differences that sponsors are trying to work out before floor votes are taken.
The bills would regulate withdrawals of more than 200,000 gallons per day from rivers and streams — or from underground aquifers — for commercial uses such as farming and manufacturing.
From cnn.com:
Shoutout
AZUZ: Time for the Shoutout! From which Native American tribe was the leader Geronimo? If you think you know it, shout it out! Was it: A) Apache, B) Blackfoot, C) Cherokee or D) Dakota? You’ve got three seconds — GO! Geronimo was an Apache leader known for his courage and determination.
LLOYD: All of those tribes, along with the rest of the Native American community, are getting an apology from the U.S. government. Now, you guys know that saying “I’m sorry” isn’t always an easy thing to do. But it’s important, especially when you’re apologizing for wrongs that took place over hundreds of years. Kate Bolduan fills us in on the details.
Interlochen Public Radio has been filing stories on the ongoing story of Inland treaty rights.
Here’s the first report, from September: Sept 9, 2007
IPR interviewed a DNR spokesperson, Frank Ettawageshik (LTBB), and Hank Bailey (GTB).
Here’s a report on the Traverse City DNR Meeting: Oct 19, 2007
IPR recorded comments from the Harris brothers, who believe they somehow have no rights, rights they allege are guaranteed to them by virtue of being “white men.” IPR also interviewed Suzanne McSauby (GTB), Derek Bailey (GTB), and Kelly Smith (DNR), who had a more balanced view.
From the Petoskey News Review:
“Four weeks after the various governments reached an understanding of how historic treaty rights apply to tribal members’ inland fishing and hunting activities, many of their officials and staff — about 100 people in all — gathered at the Odawa Hotel in Petoskey to commemorate the new agreement.
“Pipe and flag ceremonies and a gift exchange among governmental leaders were part of the celebration.
“It is a pretty exciting day,” said Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians tribal chairman Frank Ettawageshik.
“While driving to Thursday’s event, Ettawageshik noted that he’d passed through some heavy fog before arriving in clearer conditions — and likened this experience to the years-long discussion and negotiation that led up to the agreement.
“Here we are back in the sunshine at the end of the clouds,” the chairman said.
Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians tribal chairman Frank Ettawageshik signs a document commemorating a new consent decree which clarifies the hunting and fishing rights retained by five of Michigan’s Indian tribes in the Treaty of 1836. The LTBB hosted a celebration to commemorate the new agreement Thursday at its Odawa Hotel. (Ryan Bentley/News-Review)
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