Michigan Supreme Court
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Michigan Supreme Court
Controversies and Cases:
The Indigenous Peoples of Michigan
19th Century Treaties
Seven treaties signed
“Each of the treaties had a
specific purpose related
to…establishing the state”
United States v Michigan
found that treaties must be
viewed in a manner most
favorable for Native
Americans
Tribal Sovereignty
“Inherent right of the tribe
to govern itself”
One example would be the
existence of a separate,
independent tribal judicial
system
Concept repeatedly upheld
by the U.S. Supreme
Court
Tribal Sovereignty allows
tribes to retain a host of
rights including fishing,
hunting, gaming, and
higher education tuition
waivers
Hunting and Fishing Rights
Controversy
over rights retained by various tribes
in the numerous treaties signed between 1836 and
1855
People v Chosa, 1930
People v Jondreau, 1971
1970s
DNR bans gill nets in the
early 70s, limiting the
most commonly practiced
method of fishing utilized
by Native Americans
People v LeBlanc deals
with license requirements
and the rights of the state
to prohibit gill nets
United States v State of
Michigan
Considered by some to be
the “most far-reaching
Indian rights decision”
The decision by Judge
Noel Fox confirmed that
treaty rights took
precedence over the state’s
ability to regulate fishing
Gill Nets
Consent Agreement
An
attempt to find compromise between use for
tribal, non-tribal commercial, and sport fishers, at
the same time sustaining the native fish population
The Consent Agreement of 1985 aimed for
“accommodation of Indian rights, protection of
fishery, and cessation of Indian-white hostilities”
The Agreement was renewed in 2000, and for the
most part has been considered a success
Gambling
IGRA:
Indian Gaming Regulatory Act
Act of Congress passed in 1988
Specific guidelines to regulate gambling
nationally
Forced states to enter into good faith
negotiations with tribes
Native American Casinos in Michigan
Negotiations
Slot
Machines
Stalled
negotiations
in Michigan for
almost four years
Primages v Liquor
Control Commission
confirmed that
electronic games of
chance are legal in
Michigan
Compact
negotiations
concluded on August
30, 1993
Native-American
casinos agreed to pay
8% tax on “Net Win”
Detroit Casinos
Governor Engler has
refused off-site casinos for
Native Americans
On the fourth attempt, a
proposal to allow three
private casinos was passed
in the city of Detroit
New casinos were allowed
to operate slot machines
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of
Chippewa Indians v
Engler, in 1998
Revolved around the issue
of net win and if NativeAmerican casinos are still
accountable to pay, which
they were found to be
Conclusion
They
are many additional controversies that
involve the interactions between Native Americans
and non-Indian people in the state of Michigan
Cases involving tribal sovereignty, fishing rights,
and gambling are intended to represent the most
prevalent issues for the majority of Michiganders