Treaty rights to go to vote

8.03.07

Special tribal board meeting set for August 7 at Sault casino

STAFF REPORTS

SAULT STE. MARIE - The Sault Tribe Board of Directors voted by a 6-4 margin at a special meeting held on July 31 to hold a referendum to decide whether or not the Sault Tribe should enter into permanent agreement with the state and federal government regarding tribal members' treaty rights to inland fishing, hunting and gathering.

Sault Tribe has called a special board meeting for Tuesday, August 7 at the Kewadin Casino in the Sault, to discuss the issue. The 6 p.m. meeting will be held in the Ontario rooms.

The meeting will focus on resolutions that were previously considered at the July 31 special meeting. The Board of Directors voted by a 6-4 margin in favor of holding a referendum, however, a procedural error pertaining to majority voting requirements as it relates to referendums has prompted another meeting and vote on the issue.

The Sault Tribe is currently engaged in the lawsuit titled United States vs. Michigan, which includes five northern Michigan tribes who have joined together to fight to retain their rights pursuant to the 1836 Treaty of Washington, which has been under constant scrutiny at the state level.

The Bay Mills Indian Community, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, and the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians, along with the Sault Tribe are in the process of negotiating a settlement regarding the treaty rights which are being challenged by the state of Michigan in conjunction with Michigan United Conservation Clubs, Bay de Noc Great Lakes Sportsfisherman, Inc., U.P. Whitetails Inc., Coalition to Protect Michigan's Resources, Stuart Cheney, Robert Andrus, and Walloon Lake Trust and Conservancy.

Tribal officials have been working to create a “consent decree” which is essentially an agreement between the tribes, the state of Michigan, and the federal government which defines and details the specific treaty rights of tribal members. An “Agreement in Principal” was signed by all parties last summer, which committed all those involved to work together to formulate an agreement or settlement.

The mailing of referendum ballots is scheduled to occur no later than Aug. 10. The referendum will include any supporting documents, the proposed resolution to approve the consent decree along with the question: “Do you approve of the Board of Directors adopting the resolution titled Ratifying the Inland Consent Decree for U.S.. v. MI?”

The regularly scheduled board meeting planned for Munising on August 7 has been moved to August 14.