little traverse bay bands

Dispute over Access to Straits of Mackinac

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From the Petoskey News-Review:

In a pending lawsuit, the owners of a Wawatam Township lot are seeking ownership of an adjacent strip of property that the public often uses to access the Straits of Mackinac.

The legal efforts have raised concerns from county and township officials about the potential loss of public water access.

“What we don’t want to do is, we don’t want it to fall into the hands of a private owner,” said Wawatam supervisor Roger Moore. “We want to keep it so it would be accessible to the public like it always has.”

Adjoining landowner Ralph Reisinger said he’s looking for a way to control illegal activities by visitors rather than putting the spot off limits. He noted that some of the people who’ve visited the area at the end of the road have engaged in activities such as littering and building unauthorized campfires on his lot and setting off illegal fireworks.

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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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Interviews with Michigan Tribal Chairs @ United Tribes of Michigan Meeting

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are videos of interviews with Fred Cantu (Saginaw Chippewa), DK Sprague (Gun Lake Band), Frank Ettawageshik (LTBB), Matt Wesaw (Vice-Chair, Pokagon), and Aaron Payment (Sault Tribe).

Link to videos on the Saginaw Chippewa website.

Keno Case Settled

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From the Traverse City Record-Eagle:

TRAVERSE CITY — A settlement in a three-year-old lawsuit between the state and two northern Michigan Indian tribes will reduce Michigan’s cut of tribal gambling money, but will shake loose millions in escrowed state revenue.

The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians in Petoskey and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians in Manistee approved a settlement with the state to end a long-running dispute over the Michigan Lottery’s Club Keno game.

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Frank Ettawageshik on CNN

Matthew L.M. Fletcher2 Comments

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.

Saying Sorry

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.

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LTBB Revenue Sharing

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From the Petoskey News Review:

New casino revenue sharing approach planned

By Ryan Bentley News-Review Staff Writer

A more specific framework has been crafted for how Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians casino proceeds should be shared with the local community.

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Inland Agreement Photos

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

 From Indian Country Today:

  Click to Enlarge  
   
     

Photos by Theresa Keshick — Pictured are the signatories of the commemorative signing of the 2007 Inland Consent Decree between five tribes – Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Bay Mills Indian Community, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians – and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. government Oct. 25. More than 100 people were present to witness the signing. (Below) Some of the signatories included Alice King Yellowbank, member of the Little Traverse Bay Bands Tribal Council; Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Chairman Frank Ettawageshik; and Albert Colby Jr., tribal administrator of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians.

Indian Country Faces and Places welcomes your submissions. Send your high resolution photographs and a short description to photo@indiancounty.com and place ”Faces and Places” in the subject line.

Andrew Blackbird Given Star on Walk of Fame

Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

Finally, after all these years, fame!

From the Harbor Light:

Andrew Blackbird named 2007 Michigan Walk of Fame inductee

First postmaster of Harbor Springs, helped Native Americans gain citizenship

SPECIAL TO HARBOR LIGHT NEWSPAPER

The Lansing Principal Shopping District and Michigan Historical Museum announced that former Harbor Springs resident Andrew J. Blackbird is a 2007 Michigan Walk of Fame inductee. He is among twelve state residents honored this year for exceptional life service and for significantly contributing to Michigan’s civic, cultural and entrepreneurial heritage.

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Simon Otto Column: Indian Humor

Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

From the Cheboygan Daily Tribune:

Opinion

 

There’s a certain method to the art of Indian humor

By SIMON OTTO

 
 
 

Many people read magazines and articles in the paper and the comment on them tells of the native American being stoic or not listening to the topic of conversation. They don’t know or realize that it is one of the cultural things among Indian people.

Some people say that Indians don’t say much, but underneath they are a happy people, and most people think that they are quiet. True, they are quiet, but not when they get together. They can jokingly talk and make fun amongst themselves. No outsider had better do that, because if you do, then you will be left on the outside or not included in their conversations.

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Inland Treaty Rights on Interlochen Public Radio

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

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.