Updated on 6/26/08
120-Year-Old Illegal Land Taking Left Unresolved By U.S. House Vote
Written by Communications Department
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
SAULT STE. MARIE— This statement is from Chairperson Aaron Payment of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. He is commenting on the U.S. House of Representatives’ vote on H.R. 2176, a bill that would have settled a 120-year-old illegal land taking from ancestors of the Sault Tribe and Bay Mills Indian Community. The bill was defeated on the House floor today by a 298-121 vote.
“Obviously, the Sault Tribe is disappointed by the U.S. House of Representatives’ action today.
“We want to thank the bipartisan group of U.S. Representatives (as well as Members Stupak, Dingell, Kildee, Miller, Rahall, and Young) and organized labor groups who have been fighting to pass this historic piece of legislation that would have ended a sad chapter in Michigan’s history and created more than 6,000 good jobs."
“Though our efforts have not succeeded at this point, this is the farthest we have traveled on our bill to settle our century old land claim and to pursue an Indian casino in Romulus. I was deeply disappointed to hear the testimony during debate on our bill and Bay Mills’ bill - from former Chairperson Bernard Bouschor as quoted from Shelley Berkley (D-Nevada) 1st Congressional District saying, ‘The Chairman from their own Tribe (Bernard Bouschor) called it a scam!’”
“We will continue to fight to resolve this illegal land taking and bring thousands of much-needed jobs to our state.”
The Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians Official Web Site -
I am sure you all know what this could have meant for Casey, and myself.
Please write your congressman.
Congress to vote yet this month.
Take Action TODAY!
Sault Tribe members living in the United States, please telephone and write your member of Congress today.
To locate your member of Congress, visit
http://goodjobsformichigan.com/takeaction.html .
Respectfully tell them: "Representative, please fight for passage of H.R. 4115 - to settle the Sault Tribe's Charlotte Beach land claim and to create 3,000 good jobs for Michigan."
Compiled and presented by Nathan Wright, Sault Tribe Web site Administrator
Sault Tribe Of Chippewa Indians
Link: 
