Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians

Pokagon Chair Matt Wesaw Named Director of Dept. of Michigan Civil Rights

Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

Here.

Colville Enacts Same-Sex Marriage Recognition Statute

Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

Here (h/t here). They join Coquille, Suquamish, Little Traverse, Pokagon, and Santa Ysabel. For other tribes interested, see the toolkit Ann Tweedy posted a while back.

An important point:

Practically speaking, Finley said, it will mean that gay partners can have the same rights as a married couple of different sexes. One change already enacted allows anyone who works for the tribe to add a spouse of the same sex to their insurance and benefits.

He said the tribe will now begin modifying its other codes, plans and policies to make sure they agree with the newly passed amendment.

Pokagon Band Buys Naming Rights to South Bend Minor League Baseball Stadium

Matthew L.M. Fletcher2 Comments

Here.

Pokagon Tribal Court

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Pokagon court:

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First Pokagon Potawatomi Tribal Marriage is Same-Sex Marriage

Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

Here.

Tribal Gaming Per Cap Payments May Decrease Labor Productivity and Increase Fertility (?!?!)

Matthew L.M. Fletcher6 Comments

Here is a study of the effects of gaming per capita payments on tribal members of three Michigan tribes (Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, and Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians). In line with the 1491s’ hilarious video in which a candidate for tribal office runs on the platform of “progression, procreation, per cap,” the study suggests that tribal members receiving per caps leads to “decreased work efforts,” while “weak” evidence exists that per cap payments increase fertility. Enjoy.

Here is the study:

The Effects of Per Capita Tribal Payments on the Fertility, Education, and Labor Force Participation of Tribal Members

The abstract:

The purpose of this research is to provide a preliminary examination of the effects of per capita tribal payments on the decision making of tribal members. Standard  microeconomic theory suggests that unearned income changes the labor-leisure tradeoff in utility maximization models. While the results of per capita payments on hours of work can be easily anticipated, the effects of these payments on human capital accumulation and family size are more ambiguous. Using Census data from 1990 and 2000 we shed some light on the impact of these per capita tribal payments on the lives of the recipients. We concentrate on three tribes in the state of Michigan: the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, and the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians of Michigan. The results lend support to the basic labor theory conclusion that an increase in nonlabor income causes individuals to decrease their work efforts. There is also weak evidence that the payment of per capita payments from casino profits is increasing the fertility rate of Saginaw Chippewa tribal families.

Article on Pokagon Band’s Development in Northern Indiana

Kate Fort

Here.

The plan submitted to the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs also proposes a casino, hotel, meeting space and parking garage, although Pokagon Band chairman Matt Wesaw said the tribe’s focus was on providing services for about 500 members living in the area.

“There’s no time frame for the casino yet. It’s not really on the burner,” Wesaw told the South Bend Tribune for a story Wednesday.

The tribe opened its Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo, Mich., about 30 miles from South Bend, five years ago. It has since opened a smaller satellite casino in Hartford, Mich., and is preparing to open another in Dowagiac, Mich.

“We’ve accomplished a fair amount of stuff for our citizens who live in the state of Michigan,” Wesaw told WNDU-TV. “It is now time to be in a position to provide those services for our citizens who live in the service area in Indiana.”

BSSN 2012 Symposium on October 9, 2012 at Pokagon Four Winds Casino

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

PDF

Pokagon Band Potawatomi Prosecutor Position Posting

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, a federally recognized tribe in Southwest Michigan and Northwest Indiana is seeking a full-time Prosecutor / Presenting Officer. Under the administrative supervision of the General Counsel, the Prosecutor/ Presenting Officer provides criminal and civil law enforcement services to the Band, presents child protection and custody matters in the Pokagon Band Tribal Court, and represents the Band in child custody matters in state courts.  Occasional travel within and outside Michigan and Indiana will be required.

General Position Requirements:

  • 5 – 10 years of experience as a practicing attorney in one or more legal fields relevant to the principal duties of the Prosecutor / Presenting Officer.
  • High level of written and oral communication skills and superior ability to advocate and persuade.
  • Exceptional ability to think on feet and to identify and analyze legal issues and present legal theories.
  • Highly independent and organized and able to manage significant number of active matters simultaneously.
  • Licensed and member in good standing of the State Bar of Michigan.
  • Demonstrated high academic achievement with a 3.0 GPA or higher.
  • Valid driver’s license and able to meet minimum insurance requirements in order to use GSA vehicles.
  • Employment is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a criminal background investigation and submission to drug and alcohol testing by urinalysis.
  • Never have been convicted of a felony.
  • Have experience in, or within three months of appointment, have training in prosecutorial skills equivalent to training required for prosecutors in Michigan.

Preferred candidates will:  (1) display demonstrated commitment to Indian affairs as shown through significant experience working with Indian tribes or in the area of Indian affairs, including familiarity with the Indian Child Welfare Act, and (2) have previous prosecutorial experience within the Pokagon Band’s ten (10) county service area consisting of the Michigan counties of Allegan, Berrien, Van Buren and Cass and the Indiana counties of La Porte, St. Joseph, Elkhart, Starke, Marshall, and Kosciusko.

Salary is commensurate with demonstrated achievement, experience, and credentials.

For additional information on this position, including the full job description and how to apply, please visit our Careers page at www.pokagonband-nsn.gov/career_opportunities.aspx.

Pokagon Chairman Wesaw Wins National Award

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here.