The Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians (Gun Lake Tribe) announced President Barack Obama recently signed S. 1603, reaffirming the trust status of the147 acres on which the tribe’s Gun Lake Casino was built in Bradley, Michigan two years ago. The law effectively bars any current and future legal challenges to the existence of the casino, including a federal lawsuit filed by former Wayland Township Trustee David Patchak who claimed the tribe did not exist in 1934, when the law allowing federal land trusts was enacted.
Michigan’s to U.S. Senators, Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin, sponsored and led the legislation through the Senate, assisted by U.S. Rep. Fred Upton. The Senate approved the legislation on June 19 and the House gave final approval on September 16.
Rep. Upton said, “This is a victory for jobs and the economy here in Southwest Michigan. Having passed the House by a bipartisan two-to-one margin, this legislation reaffirms once and for all the Department of Interior’s action of taking this land into trust. The Gun Lake Tribe has created more than 1,000 jobs here in Allegan County and has shared revenues with the local municipality and schools.”
Gun Lake Chairman D.K. Sprague added, “This is a historic day for the tribe and Indian Country. This new law not only reaffirms the trust status of our land, but also permanently ends the frivolous legal challenges that our tribe and the local community have faced for more than ten years. We are pleased that Congress and the President of the United States have vindicated our position.”
