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-