Little River Band of Ottawa Indians

Op/Ed re: Carcieri Fix

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From the Traverse City Record-Eagle:

The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians celebrates its 30th anniversary of federal recognition this year, but nothing, apparently, is sacred in ever-changing federal American Indian policy.

A controversial Supreme Court ruling last year blocks many American Indian tribes recognized by the U.S. Interior Secretary after 1934 from making more land-to-trust applications.

The high court’s Carcieri vs. Salazar ruling on Feb. 24, 2009, and politics surrounding a proposed legislative fix, show just how frustrating, confounding and shameful federal American Indian policy has been over more than two centuries of American history — and apparently still is.

The ruling appears to have no effect on the Grand Traverse Band, which was recognized in 1980. In fact, the Interior Department approved trust status for 78 acres in Antrim County on Dec. 10.

The ruling also does not appear to affect two other area tribes — the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians in Emmet County and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians in Manistee County, both recognized in 1994 by federal statute. Continue reading →

Profile Article of Kenny Pheasant and the Anishinaabemdaa Program

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here.

Steiger v. Little River Casino — Title VII Complaint

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are the early materials in Steiger v. Little River Casino Resort, a sex discrimination claim under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act:

Steiger Complaint

LRB Motion to Dismiss

Not sure how the plaintiff’s lawyer thinks the federal court has jurisdiction over this. The complaint just cites Title VII, without any argument as to why it could possibly apply to a tribe or its business. Other doing the same have been subject to Rule 11 sanctions (see our paper here).

Margaret Bailey Chandler to Enter Mich. Hall of Fame

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From Indianz:

Margaret Bailey Chandler, a member of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians who died in 1997 at the age of 67, will be inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame.

Chandler’s work helped secure federal recognition for her tribe. She served as tribal historian and advocated for treaty and fishing rights.

“She had to fight for what she believed in, and look what she did,” granddaughter Valerie Chandler told The Muskegon Chronicle. “She made such a difference in so many people’s lives.”

The induction ceremony will be held October 21. Continue reading →

LRB Language Camp Announcement

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians invites you to the 16th Annual

Anishinaabe Family Language / Culture Camp

Celebrating the unity of our language and culture

Bring your nation flag and gift for the giveaway

Meals are provided                                                       No registration fee

Aanii piish                                                                   Wenesh pii

Manistee Mi.                                                             July 24,25, 26 2009 Continue reading →

LRB and State of Michigan Enter into Agreement re: Authority of Tribal COs

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From the Ludington Daily News:

Any confusion over whether tribal conservation officers have the right to stop state-licensed hunters has been removed.

The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians and the State of Michigan have entered into an agreement that satisfies a provision in the 2007 Inland Consent Decree regarding enforcement of conservation regulations, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

The issue came to light locally when Ed Haik, a retired Manistee County sheriff and the deputy chair of the Manistee County Board of Commissioners, noted that there was no legal mechanism for tribal conservation officers to stop state-licensed hunters or anglers. Last month, the county board sent a letter to Gov. Jennifer Granholm opposing any cross-deputization measures and asking for a public hearing on the issue.

Continue reading →

James McClurken’s “Our People, Our Journey: The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians”

Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

Michigan State Press just published this fantastic book. Here are the details from the Press:

Our People, Our Journey
The Little River Ottawa Band of Indians

James M. McClurken

Our People, Our Journey is a landmark history of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, a Michigan tribe that has survived to the present day despite the expansionist and assimilationist policies that nearly robbed it of an identity in the late nineteenth century.

In his thoroughly researched chronicle, McClurken documents in words and images every major lineage and family of the Little River Ottawas. He describes the Band’s struggles to find land to call its own over several centuries, including the hardships that began with European exploration of what is now the upper Midwest. Although the Little River Ottawas were successful at integrating their economic and cultural practices with those of Europeans, they were forced to cede land in the face of American settlements.

Continue reading →

LRB Natural Resources Internship Announcement

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Aquatic Fisheries Intern (3 positions), Natural Resources Dept
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
375 River Street
Manistee, MI 49960

The full internship announcement is available at :
http://www.lrboi.com/hr/
and will only be posted there until 3/26

Continue reading →

Little River Tribal Court Judge Issues Gag Order on Tribal Enrollment

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From Indianz:

“A tribal court in Michigan has issued an injunction ordering a journalist not to report on issues related to “blood quantum” and qualifications for tribal enrollment.

Judge Melissa Pope of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Tribal Court entered the injunction last month, after another judge issued a temporary restraining order in August 2008. According to Pope’s February 19 order, “Defendants and Plaintiffs shall not discuss any parties’ enrollment in the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians with respect to enrollment fraud, meaning questioning whether any of the parties are properly enrolled; status as a descendant; or blood quantum.” Judge Pope issued the injunction in connection with a libel case against reporter Nancy Kelsey and three other defendants. Among other allegations in their complaint, the plaintiffs claim that Kelsey “sent numerous e-mails claiming that Plaintiffs and their families have engaged in enrollment fraud and are not rightful members of this Tribe.” ”

Get the Story:
Tribal court bans reporter from covering fraud claims (Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press 3/2)

Emmet County Revenue Sharing Board Loses Court Case

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From Ludington Daily News:

PETOSKEY — The Emmet County Local Revenue Sharing Board’s method of dividing tribal casino profits among local governments was wrong, a judge ruled recently.

Charlevoix County Circuit Court Judge Richard Pajtas made the ruling in a suit three Petoskey area school boards brought against the revenue sharing board, according to Dennis O. Cawthorne, a former state representative from Manistee who represented the school boards through the law firm Kelley Cawthorne, which he heads with former Michigan Attorney General Frank Kelley.

Cawthorne recently notified Manistee Area Public Schools Superintendent Bob Olsen about the Emmet County decision and said it proves the Manistee Local Revenue Sharing Board is correct in the way it handles allocations from slot machine profits at the Little River Casino Resort.

Continue reading →