Little River Band of Ottawa Indians

More LRB News on Off-Reservation Casino Proposals

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From Business Review Western Michigan:

Rumblings of a new casino in West Michigan grew louder last week when Fruitport Land Development announced it sold 93 acres in Fruitport Township to the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians.

The tribe, which owns and operates a casino in Manistee, has not firmed up plans or received approval to proceed, according to tribal Public Affairs Director Glenn Zaring.

“We are currently going through the steps to explore establishing a casino on the property but are examining a number of development options, as well,” Zaring said.
Everything is still on the table, he added.

The acreage sold for $4.074 million, according to Township Assessor Lesli Lehner. The land fronts Sternberg Road and, although Lakes Mall is on the opposite side of Sternberg, it is undeveloped and without utilities, she said.

On July 16, the tribe closed on the former Great Lakes Downs racetrack property, and the next day it closed on 53.58 acres south of the 87-acre racetrack property. The most recent buy is southeast of the 53-plus acres, formerly owned by Horizon Group Properties, and the parcels connect at one corner, Lehner said.

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Muskegon County Advisory Vote on LRB Casino Proposal

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From the Muskegon Chronicle:

The Muskegon County Board of Commissioners will put a non-binding casino referendum on the countywide Nov. 4 general election ballot.

The vote will be advisory in nature, giving county commissioners the voters’ direction on how to handle issues concerning the Manistee-based Little River Band of Ottawa Indians attempt to place its second casino at the former Great Lakes Downs horse-racing track in Fruitport Township.

The casino advisory vote was proposed by county board Chairman James Derezinski in response to a citizen group forming in light of a previous casino resolution of support by the county board. A group has formed calling for an open debate of the county board’s support for a Fruitport Indian casino after the tribe announced it had purchased the former racetrack last month.

County officials indicated that a public vote for the casino would not insure the tribe the successful development of a Muskegon County Indian casino. Likewise, a vote against the casino will not necessarily prohibit an Indian gambling facility at U.S. 31 and I-96.

The issue of Indian casino development is decided in agreements between the tribe and the state of Michigan and the tribe and the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. The tribe is a sovereign nation under U.S. law.

The specific language for the Indian casino advisory vote will be drawn up by county attorney Theodore Williams. The ballot language is expected to be back before the county board Aug. 26.

LRB Member Recalls Mt. Pleasant Indian School in the 1920s

Matthew L.M. Fletcher2 Comments

From the Morning Sun:

John Crampton, member of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, still remembers the days when he attended the Mt. Pleasant Indian Industrial School at age 6.

Eighty-three years later, as he walked the grounds of the former school, he reminisced about the fond memories of his childhood.

“That was the big boy’s dormitory,” Crampton said. “Over there was a deer pen.

“The buildings for the teachers and staff was over there.”

The Mt. Pleasant Indian Industrial School was in operation from 1893 to 1933.

An excerpt from an Oct. 1, 1889 report from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs shows what the U.S. government’s mindset was like at the time: “The Indians must conform to the ‘white man’s ways,’ peaceably if they will, forcibly if they must,” the report stated.

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LTBB and LRB Compact Amendments Published in Federal Register

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From Indianz. The Department of Interior neither approved nor disapproved the amendments, so they are in force after the expiration of 45 days.

AP: Michigan Tribes Object to Michigan Water Legislation

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

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.

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Lac Vieux Desert Band Cuts Deal with Muskegon

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From Indianz:

The city council in Muskegon, Michigan, voted 5-2 to approve an agreement with the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa for an off-reservation casino.

The deal requires the tribe to pay $2 million a year for municipal services plus 4 percent of net gaming revenues and other service fees. The total annual payment is estimated at $4.5 million. The agreement is non-binding and non-exclusionary. The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians is also proposing an off-reservation casino in the city.

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Little River Ottawa Muskegon Casino Details

Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

From the Muskegon Chronicle:

Tribe proposes $100 million casino with 800 jobs

A downtown Muskegon casino proposed by the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians would be nearly twice the size of the band’s Little River Casino in Manistee.

It would also appeal to a different market, tribal leaders told members of the Muskegon City Commission Monday night — an urban market that would pull in people from around Muskegon, Grand Rapids and as far east as Lansing, as opposed to the destination-resort setting of the Manistee gaming facility.

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Little River Ottawa Proposal to Game in Muskegon

Matthew L.M. Fletcher2 Comments

From Indianz:

Little River Band interested in off-reservation casino

The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians is entering the off-reservation casino game in Muskegon, Michigan.

The tribe plans to make a presentation to the city commission on Monday. Ogema Larry Romanelli says the tribe is interested in a casino in Muskegon — about 80 miles from tribal headquarters in Manistee. The Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians recently proposed an off-reservation casino in Muskegon. The tribe’s headquarters are about 500 miles away. The Grand River Band of Ottawa Indians, an unrecognized tribe, is also interested in a casino in the city.

Get the Story:
Muskegon officials to hear another casino pitch (The Muskegon Chronicle 2/8)

Dissent at Little River

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From the Ludington Daily News:

Tribal office picketed

Some members voice displeasure with tribal council

Kevin Braciszeski – Daily News Staff Writer

Thursday, January 17, 2008

MANISTEE — Several members of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians carried signs and spoke against the tribal council outside the tribe’s offices Wednesday morning.

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Lac Vieux Desert Off-Reservation Gaming Proposal (Muskegon) — News Coverage

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

More coverage from the Kalamazoo Gazette and the Muskegon Chronicle. The Chronicle’s coverage denotes significant skepticism:

Obstacles piled high as tribes consider casino

The standing-room-only crowd at the casino presentation by the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians left Muskegon City Hall on Monday night wondering whether the western Upper Peninsula tribe’s proposal was realistic.

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