Michigan Class III gaming compacts

NHBP Shared Revenue to Help Michigan Schools Scrap Native Mascots

Sarah M Donnelly1 Comment

Link: New state-tribe agreement may help schools nix Native American mascots by Emily Lawler from MLive.

The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi and the State of Michigan amended their gaming compact to allow up to $500,000 to be put in the Michigan Native American Heritage Fund:

The federal government on Dec. 12, 2016 approved another amendment that puts a portion of state revenue sharing into a special fund dedicated to promoting understanding, history and good relationships with the state’s Native Americans.

One use could be for monetary help transitioning schools away from Native American mascots.

“This fund demonstrates our commitment to providing Michigan schools, colleges and universities with the funds needed to improve curricula and resources related to Native American issues and mascot revisions,” said NHBP Tribal Chair Jamie Stuck in a press release. “We understand that schools often don’t have funds available for these types of projects and we are dedicated to removing that obstacle.”

Up to $500,000 per year from the tribe’s revenue sharing to the state could go into the new Michigan Native American Heritage Fund. It will be run by a board consisting of two people appointed by the tribe, two people appointed by the governor and also the Michigan Department of Civil Rights Director or his designee.

Michigan Gaming Compact Negotiation News Coverage

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From the Alpena News:

The Fletcher law firm in Lansing, which specializes in Native American legal issues, has said when the 20-year-old agreements expire is up for interpretation. Some experts cite a provision implying that the deals automatically roll over for five years if no new ones are reached.

And from MLive:

The state is looking at getting back some of that revenue sharing, but tribes will generally oppose that unless the state offers meaningful concessions, said Zeke Fletcher, a Lansing-based tribal lawyer and citizen of the Grand Traverse Band. He is not representing any tribes in the negotiations.

Traditionally, “meaningful concessions” have meant statewide exclusive rights to offer Vegas-style, or class III gaming, Fletcher said. In more recent compacts the state secured revenue sharing in exchange for more of a regional protection from competition, according to a blog post from Fletcher’s colleague, Bryan Newland.

Newland’s posts are here and here.