Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi

The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi (NHBP) is a federally recognized Native American band of Potawatomi people in the United States. The tribe achieved federal recognition on December 19, 1995, and currently has approximately 800 members.

The Notawasepe Potawatamie Reservation is located at 42°06′18″N 85°15′40″W / 42.10500°N 85.26111°W / 42.10500; -85.26111 in Athens Township in southwestern Calhoun County in southwestern Michigan. It has a land area of 129.4 acres (524,000 m²). It has purchased an additional 230 acres of land for its use and operates a gaming casino in Battle Creek.

Name

Despite the name, this band of Potawatomi has no direct connection with the unrelated Huron people. Rather, both "Nottawaseppi" and "Huron" refer to the band's historical location along the Clinton River in southeastern Michigan. This river was formerly known as the Nottawasippee River or the Huron River of St. Clair. The word Nottawasippee is an Anishnabek ethnic slur meaning "like rattlesnakes", referring to the Huron people, who inhabited the area prior to the arrival of the Potawatomi, Odawa and Ojibwe. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

History

In the 19th century, especially, the Potawatomi people and closely related tribes of Odawa and Ojibwe peoples of the Anishinaabe were affiliated as the Council of Three Fires. All these peoples were highly decentralized and bands operated independently. During the 17th and 18th centuries, numerous bands moved into what is now Michigan.

The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi signed a treaty with the United States to cede much of its land in 1820, and was assigned a smaller portion of land as its reservation. It is located at 42°06′18″N 85°15′40″W / 42.10500°N 85.26111°W / 42.10500; -85.26111 in Athens Township in southwestern Calhoun County.

In the 20th century, the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act was intended to encourage tribes to set up self-government. The nine historic bands of Odawa, Ojibwe and Potawatomi in Michigan were not covered by this act and later had to achieve federal recognition or reaffirmation as tribes independently, a process that continues.

The band organized to regain self-government, gaining reaffirmation of its status as a tribe in 1995 by Congressional legislation. Their homeland headquarters are in Fulton, Kalamazoo County, near Athens, in the southwestern region of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. This is about 17 miles southwest of Battle Creek (about 22 miles by vehicle route).^[4] Athens Township is within the major city's metropolitan area. The Band also maintains satellite offices in Grand Rapids, about 74 miles north of Fulton/Athens.h^[5] The service area of the tribe includes the reservation as well as members living in Kalamazoo, Calhoun, Ottawa, Kent and Allegan counties.^[6]

Government

The NHBP is governed by a written constitution and an elected 5-member tribal council. This includes the following executive officers: Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and Sergeant-at-Arms.

Tribal Court

The NHBP Tribal Court was established in 2006. It is run by a Tribal Chief Justice.

Tribal departments

The NHBP administration is divided into departments for Operations, Finance, Enrollment, Education, Housing, Health, and Language.

Economy

The NHBP own FireKeepers Casino, a 236,000-square-foot (21,900 m²) casino with an attached 2,078-space parking garage on 78 acres (320,000 m²) located in Battle Creek, Michigan. This operation is governed by a compact with the state of Michigan.

Tribal Timeline of Events

1970 – The Tribe is incorporated in the state of Michigan. Government by a written constitution and an elected Tribal Council is established.

1995 – The United States government restores federal recognition to the tribe on December 19.

1998 – The Tribe purchases a 155-acre (630,000 m²) property on Q Drive near Fulton, Michigan.

2000 – An administration building is constructed.

2003 – A multi-use trail system is constructed.

2004 – Road construction begins. On August 7, the Athens Arch is dedicated by the Athens Superintendent of Schools at Athens High School. The arch commemorates the history of the Huron Potawatomi and the cordial relations between the tribe and the town of Athens, Michigan.

2005 – The tribe constructs its first group of single family, energy-efficient homes on the Reservation.

2006 – A Tribal court is established.

2007 – A Community Center and Health Center are constructed. A 79-acre (320,000 m²) parcel of property in Emmett Township is placed into Federal trust on behalf of the Tribe. The Tribe places 75 acres (300,000 m²) of the Q Drive property into the USDA wetland reserve program.

2008 – Construction begins on FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek, Michigan.

2009 – FireKeepers Casino opens on August 5, 2009.^[7]

2010 - Nottawaseppi Huron Band chairwoman Laura Spurr, who had served in that position since 2003 and helped to develop the FireKeepers Casino, dies on February 19, 2010.^[8]

See also

• Anishinaabe
• Council of Three Fires
• Potawatomi
• Notawasepe Potawatamie Reservation, established by treaty of 1820 with the United States and home of many of the band's ancestors in the 1820s.

References

• Huron Potawatomi Reservation, Michigan United States Census Bureau
• Tribal History, Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi

External links

• Official Website of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi
• Bob Van Alstine, Tribal Profile: "Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi", Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan

Native American Tribes in Michigan
Federally recognized	Bay Mills Grand Traverse Hannahville L'Anse Lac Vieux Little River Little Traverse Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Nottawaseppi Huron Pokagon Saginaw Chippewa Sault
State recognized	Burt Lake Grand River Band of Ottawa Indians Mackinac Swan Creek Black River Confederated Ojibwa Tribes of Michigan