potawatomi

H.R. 2837: Indian Tribal Federal Recognition Administrative Procedures Act

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here’s the full text of the bill.

And here’s the link to the testimony in the House Resources Committee on October 3, 2007.

Jim Keedy of Michigan Indian Legal Services testified. As Jim notes in his testimony, MILS has assisted numerous Michigan tribes in their federal recognition efforts, including Pokagon Band, Little Traverse, Little River, Lac Vieux Desert — and Grand Traverse Band, the first tribe recognized under the Federal Acknowledgment Process, 25 C.F.R. Part 83 (then Part 54). MILS is now representing the Grand River Band of Ottawa Indians in their attempt to become federally recognized. Their petition is complete, but as Jim Keedy testified, it will be 15-20 years before the Bureau of Acknowledgment and Research will place their file on active review.

Pokagon Band Distribution Fund

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From WSJV:

A Band of Native Americans Give Back  
 

A band of Native Americans are giving back to the land and its people.

The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and the Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo launched the Pokagon Fund.

It goes above and beyond what Michigan provides in money for the area. The fund is open to cities and non-profit groups including the arts and culture and health services.

It aims at enhancing people’s lives.

Pokagon Fund Executive Director Mary Dunbar says, “We’re really looking forward to seeing the kinds of applications that come through. Right now we don’t know what kinds of projects we’ll be funding and we look forward to receiving applications.”

The fund comes from electronic gaming money at the Casino Resort. For a grant application and guidelines, log on to www.pokagonfund.org

More coverage of this interesting concept here and here.

Gun Lake Casino Oral Argument Report

Matthew L.M. Fletcher3 Comments

From the Kalamazoo Gazette: “Both sides said they were optimistic after arguments were presented Friday before the U.S. Court of Appeals over the future of a proposed Indian casino in Wayland Township.James Nye, a spokesman for the Gun Lake Tribe of Potawatomi Indians, said the group is prepared to begin casino construction before year’s end if the three-judge panel ejects a challenge by Michigan Gambling Opposition, or MichGO.”

MichGO v. Kempthorne Materials

Matthew L.M. Fletcher2 Comments

This case involves a challenge to the Secretary of Interior’s decision to take land into trust for gaming purposes benefiting the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians (a/k/a Gun Lake Band).

Here is a recent news article noting that the D.C. Circuit heard oral argument in this case this morning.

Here is Gun Lake’s appellate brief [it is very large, 103 pages].

Cherokee Freedmen Materials

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

H/T to Indianz.com:

Cherokee-Related Legislation:
H.R.2786 | H.R.2895 | H.R.2824 | H.R.3002

BIA Letters:
August 9, 2007 | July 11, 2007 | June 22, 2007 | May 21, 2007 | March 28, 2007 | August 30, 2006

Sovereign Immunity Court Decision:
Vann v. Kempthorne (December 19, 2006) Cherokee Nation Judicial Appeals Tribunal Decision in Freedmen Case:
Allen v. Cherokee Nation (March 7, 2006)

Relevant Links:
Cherokee Nation – http://www.cherokee.org
Freedmen Of The Five Civilized Tribes – http://www.freedmen5tribes.com
Freedmen Conference – http://www.freedmenconference.com
Congressional Black Caucus, Annual Leadership Conference – http://www.alc2007.com

Michigan Indian Gaming Materials: Compacts

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

The 1993 stipulation and consent judgment in Tribes v. Engler is here.

The GTB compact is here — the compacts of GTB, Saginaw Chippewa, LVD, Sault Tribe, BMIC, Hannahville, and KBIC are the same.

The LTBB compact is here — the compacts of LTBB, LRB, Pokagon, and Huron Nottawaseppi are all the same. LTBB’s Mackinaw City amendment is here.

All the compact materials are available here.

MSU NALSA Panel: Cherokee Freedmen

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

On November 9, 2007, MSU’s Native American Law Students Association will be hosting a panel discussion on tribal membership issues in light of the Cherokee Freedmen controversy.

The speakers include Marilyn Vann, the lead plaintiff in Vann v. Kempthorne (D. D.C.), and Mike Phelan, in-house counsel for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. Mike’s talk will be a more general discussion of the law of tribal membership.

Materials about the Cherokee Freedmen dispute are available on Indianz.com here. My own take on the question is here and here.