SETTLEMENT RECOGNIZES TREATY BOUNDARIES

November 8, 2010

The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribal Council today approved settlement of a suit it filed in federal court seeking recognition of the Isabella Indian Reservation. The settlement will ask the federal court to recognize the boundaries of the Isabella Indian Reservation established by the treaties of 1855 and 1864 and comprised of five full and two half townships in Isabella County.

According to Tribal Chief, Dennis V. Kequom Sr., the Tribe is pleased to reach this negotiated settlement with the City and State.

"We are hopeful that the county will join the city and state, and that the court will approve this settlement so that the governments can put this dispute behind them," said Chief Kequom. "The federal government has also approved the settlement. General counsel for the Tribe, Sean Reed, said that "this settlement clearly recognizes the Tribe's Reservation boundaries as 'Indian Country' and provides certainty with respect to the proper exercise of jurisdiction over Tribal members."

The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe filed suit against the governor of Michigan, the Michigan attorney general, and the treasurer of the State of Michigan in November of 2005 . The federal government joined with the Tribe in 2006. The city of Mt. Pleasant and Isabella County joined the state of Michigan in the lawsuit in 2007.

The settlement includes several intergovernmental agreements regarding issues of law enforcement, Indian child welfare, taxation, zoning and land use. It is the result of over 20 months of Court facilitated mediation.

-Read the Official Press Release-

SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS ON THE BOUNDARY SUIT WIN AND WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU

Tribal Boundaries (limited map)