Keweenaw Bay Indian Community

Blast from the Past: Tom Smithson Letter Describing KBIC Tribal Leader Fred Dakota’s Arrest for Exercising Treaty Rights in 1970

May 20, 2025Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Tom Smithson Letter re KBIC Fishing Rights 1970.pdf Download

Sad News — KBIC Judge Bill Jondreau Walks On

March 15, 2023Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Fred Dakota Walks On

September 16, 2021Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here. And here.

“The Father of Indian Casino Gambling.”

Michigan SCT Holds KBIC Workers Did Not Violate State Tobacco Law When Transporting Unstamped Smokes

August 2, 2021Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the opinion and the materials in People v. Magnant:

Prior post here.

Federal Court Orders Tribal Exhaustion in Habeas Matter

May 17, 2021May 15, 2021Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are the materials in Loonsfoot v. Brogan (W.D. Mich.):

1 Complaint

5 DCt Order

Michigan COA Holds State Courts Have Jurisdiction in Reservation Property Dispute

November 2, 2020November 2, 2020Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the opinion in Smith v. Landrum (Mich. Ct. App.):

Opinion

An excerpt:

The question presented in this quiet title action is whether a state court has subject-matter jurisdiction to decide an easement dispute in favor of a non-Indian on land owned by a non-Indian when the land is located on an Indian reservation. The trial court concluded that it did not, and therefore entered a final order granting defendants’ motion for summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(4) (lack of subject-matter jurisdiction).¹ For the reasons outlined below, we hold that the trial court had subject-matter jurisdiction over the easement dispute. We therefore reverse the order granting defendant’s motion for summary disposition, and remand for further proceedings.