[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 55 (Thursday, March 29, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S4191]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LEVIN (for himself and Ms. Stabenow):
  S. 1058. A bill to expedite review of the Grand River Bands of Ottawa 
Indians of Michigan to secure a timely and just determination of 
whether the Bands are entitled to recognition as a Federal Indian tribe 
so that the Bands may receive eligible funds before the funds are no 
longer available; to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians, 
commonly referred to as the Grand River Bands, has been in some form 
indigenous to the State of Michigan for over 200 years. The Grand River 
Bands consists of the 19 bands of Indians who occupied the territory 
along the Grand River in what is now southwest Michigan, including the 
cities of Grand Rapids and Muskegon. The members of the Grand River 
Bands are the descendants and political successors to signatories of 
the 1821 Treaty of Chicago and the 1836 Treaty of Washington. They are 
also one of six tribes which is an original signatory of the 1855 
Treaty of Detroit. However, the Grand River Bands is the only one of 
those tribes which is not recognized by the Federal Government.
  In the 109th Congress, I introduced a bill, with my colleague, 
Senator Stabenow, which would direct the Bureau of Indian Affairs at 
the Department of the Interior to make a recognition determination, for 
the Grand River Bands, in a timely manner. I am pleased to re-introduce 
that bill now. I would also like to affirm that this bill does not 
federally recognize the tribe nor does it address the issue of gaming. 
Furthermore, I would like to stress the timely manner in which this 
determination must be made.
  If federally recognized, the Grand River Bands is eligible for funds 
set aside for them from a Federal consent judgment. These funds are 
expected to be distributed this year. In order for the Grand River 
Bands to receive their portion of this fund, they must be federally 
recognized before this money is distributed. They have completed all of 
the necessary items for a determination to be made by the Bureau of 
Indian Affairs, but the Bureau has failed to act on the petition for 
the past ten years.
  I hope that this legislation will help to provide a timely remedy so 
that the Grand River Bands can receive funds that are currently set 
aside for them, and enjoy the full benefits and status of Federal 
recognition.
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