Members of the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians cheer bipartisan effort for federal recognition
Sign at the Nokomis Learning Center in Meridian Township | Susan J. Demas
With U.S. Reps. Hillary Scholten (D-Grand Rapids) and John James (R-Shelby Twp.) reintroducing the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians Restoration Act on Thursday, members of the bands are cheering the policy, which would grant them federal recognition.
The Grand River Bands have advocated for federal recognition for more than 30 years using the process laid out by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Federal Acknowledgement. While the tribe completed a petition for federal recognition in 2000, and received a potential finding from the Bureau in 2023, recognition is still many years away.
The United States government recognizes 574 tribes, including 12 in Michigan. If the Grand River Bands receive recognition, members would be able to access federal resources, including social services, education, housing, elder care and the ability to exercise treaty rights and weigh in on legislation that impacts tribes.
'On behalf of the Grand River Bands, I thank the lead sponsors of this legislation, Reps. Scholten and James, and others from the Michigan Congressional delegation for advocating for justice for our tribal members,' Ron Yob, chairman of the Grand River Bands, said in a statement. 'After more than three decades of advocacy for federal recognition, I am hopeful our tribal members will soon have access to the resources they deserve, and which have eluded generations of tribal members.'
According to a statement, the Grand River Bands signed five separate treaties between 1795 and 1855 reaffirming their constitutional sovereignty. They are the last treaty tribe east of the Mississippi River without federal recognition.
'For generations, the Grand River Bands have made meaningful contributions to our state and country – and yet, they have remained unjustly excluded from the federal recognition they deserve. Without federal recognition, they are denied access to the same opportunities available to other federally recognized tribes including health care, housing assistance, and educational support. This bill fixes that and I'm honored to support it,' James said.
The Grand River Bands are based along the Grand River and other waterways in southwest Michigan, with most current members residing in Kent, Muskegon and Oceana counties.
'The Grand River Bands are a central part of our state's history, culture, and community, and it's long overdue that we officially recognize them as a sovereign tribe,' Scholten said. 'They are foundational to the identity of West Michigan, and for nearly 30 years, the Grand River Bands have been advocating for federal recognition. I'm committed to ensuring they get the resources and respect they deserve.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
34 minutes ago
- CNN
Venezuelans in Florida react to Trump's new travel ban
President Donald Trump signed a proclamation to ban travel from several countries to the US, citing security risks, with one of the countries being Venezuela. Venezuelans in Florida reacted to the ban, with one worrying about their visa.
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump administration bans travel from 19 countries as San Diego prepares for peak tourism season
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — The Trump administration announced a travel ban against a dozen countries on Wednesday and restrictions on seven others, citing national security concerns as a major reason for the restrictions. 'We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm,' President Donald Trump said in a video posted to social media. The proclamation signed Wednesday bans people from the following countries: Afghanistan Myanmar Chad Republic of Congo Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Haiti Iran Libya Somalia Sudan Yemen It also restricts travel to the United States from these countries: Burundi Cuba Laos Sierra Leone Togo Turkmenistan Venezuela That makes traveling to San Diego potentially more difficult or impossible for visitors from these nations. 'In order for this ban, this travel restriction to stand up in court, it has to be tied to legitimate reasons, and the president is tying it to issues of national security,' said Wendy Patrick, FOX 5 and KUSI legal analyst. This isn't the first time Trump imposed a controversial travel ban. In 2017, during his first term in office, he also restricted travel from seven predominantly Muslim countries. 'It can't be tied to demographics that are impermissible such as religion, race, national origin,' Patrick said. 'It has to be tied to an issue for which these powers exist.' Advocacy groups like the Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans criticize the ban, saying, 'At a time when immigration enforcement agents are abducting immigrants and tearing families apart, this ban only magnifies the inhumane treatment of people under this administration.' Sen. Alex Padilla echoes these concerns, saying in a statement, 'This senseless, prejudicial policy is an abuse of power that also threatens U.S. citizen relatives from the targeted countries.' The administration cites a report from the Department of Homeland Security that tracks the number of visa overstays, singling out nations with the highest overstay rates and countries with what the administration calls a significant terrorist presence. 'In the 21st century, we've seen one terror attack after another carried out by foreign visa overstayers,' Trump said. Patrick says that clarity could make upholding the ban in court more successful, but not foolproof. 'The first ban had a time limit on it — 90 days, 120 days. This one doesn't. It's open-ended, and that in and of itself could form the basis for a lawsuit,' Patrick said. The San Diego Tourism Authority says it's too early to predict the impact, adding, 'It's worth noting that international visitors comprise a relatively small portion of San Diego's overall tourism economy — only about 10 percent of overnight visitors. This gives us more stability than other gateway cities.' 'Lawyers and citizens from all over the world who are seeking to enter the U.S. are going to try to get clarity and try to get court action between now and the next term,' Patrick said. This travel ban is set to take effect on Monday, giving airports time to prepare, but that also leaves plenty of time for lawyers to file lawsuits against the proclamation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Readers sound off on the Knicks' season, attacks on Jews and the mayoral debate
Stamford, Conn.: As the New York Knicks head into the offseason, it's only fitting to congratulate them on an outstanding season that brought pride and excitement to their exceptional fan base. In a time marked by division, uncertainty and political turmoil, professional sports take on greater significance. They offer a welcome reprieve from the noise of a fractured society and serve as a powerful reminder that competition doesn't have to breed tribalism. Watching displays of sportsmanship, dignity and professionalism reminds us that people can disagree while maintaining mutual respect. The NBA Eastern Conference Championship series filled me with pride and admiration for our hometown team. I was moved not just by the Knicks' performance, but by the sheer beauty of elite athleticism. We witnessed an inspiring display of teamwork with talented individuals uniting in pursuit of a shared goal. Win or lose, the Knicks can hold their heads high for a season that showcased heart and skill. They brought together fans from across the political and social spectrum and, for a brief moment, reminded us that mutual respect and kindness are still possible, even in disagreement. For those uninterested in sports, understand that it's not just about the three-point shot, the elegant pass or the final score. It's about the community coming together to blow off steam, cheer for something bigger than ourselves and shake hands when the game is over. This series brought out the best in us and should serve as a model for how we approach challenges both on and off the hardwood. Peter Janoff Woodland Park, N.J.: President Trump's Big Beautiful Bill will leave millions of people uninsured and will add trillions to our already hefty national debt. It looks like Trump will soon add the United States to the list of his other six bankruptcies. John Dent Manhattan: Once this bill passes and the debt goes up, it's on House Republicans, the Senate GOP and the president. I always believed that Republicans thought of themselves as the debt-conscious party. This proves that House Republicans and the Senate GOP are financially inept. Edward Drossman Smithfield, Pa.: Haven't we all wondered what we would have done in Germany under the Nazis? Well, here we are. Families ripped apart, people consigned to prisons where life itself is uncertain without hope of release, all without due process of law, much of this against people who are documented or even citizens. Now I see why the Germans closed their eyes as the Holocaust picked up speed. Do we close ours and pursue our normal daily lives, hoping that something will happen to fix things and that we are not the next to go? This administration hates women and people of color and despises anyone not wealthy. This madman and his posse are the true foreigners — foreign to any sense of decency, any sense of what we are as a nation. Take action, speak out and don't be silent, as silence is the death of us. Mary Terry Huntington, L.I.: Elon Musk is like the farmer who closes the barn door after all the animals have escaped. Leonard Stevenson Yonkers: I look forward to reading your articles and at times your editorials regarding Chuck 'The Liar' Schumer. Each and every time I do, I laugh harder and harder — not so much at his erroneous 'facts,' but more so his daily endeavors to derail Trump. This man should be voted so far out of office that it would take NASA to bring him back. He's done nothing since his law school graduation but incite malice via erroneous information that best suits him and his trove of gullible supporters. Give us a break, Chuckie. Retire and become an author of fairy tales and fiction. Ralph A. Manente Philadelphia: It's always great to hear from regular Voice of the People contributors like right-wing MAGA Voicer Bob Cavaliere griping about Dems and free stuff for taxpayers. How about letting everyone know how you feel about spending several million taxpayer dollars every weekend for Trump and his billionaire pals to play golf at the nearest Trump golf properties? An aside to everyone else: Have you ever heard as much whining and crying about anything and everything as you do now from the white male MAGA crowd? Talk about snowflakes. Duane Doberman Manhattan: To Voicer Lauren Shapiro: Are you any relation to the fellow, also with the last name Shapiro, mentioned in Mary Trump's book about her uncle, who took Donald's SATs to allow him to get into an Ivy League school? W.T. Bredin San Francisco: Since Oct. 7, 2023, antisemitism in America has escalated exponentially. It began with Palestinian supporters coldly tearing down posters of Israelis — including children — kidnapped by Hamas during its murderous terrorist attack. It progressed as activists on college campuses intimidated Jewish and pro-Israel students. Finally, it turned violent: In April, Pennsylvania's Jewish Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family were targeted in an arson attack during Passover. In May, Israeli embassy staff members Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim were murdered at a Jewish cultural event in Washington by a man who shouted 'Free, free Palestine!' And in June, a man who reportedly wanted to 'kill all Zionists' firebombed people in Boulder, Colo., marching peacefully to raise awareness of the 58 Israelis still held hostage in Gaza by Hamas. What if worse is still to come? Never again is now! Stephen A. Silver Yonkers: Re 'Shootings and killings in May haven't been so low in 30 yrs.' (June 4): In New York City, shootings and crime may be down, but look who's lurking in the shadows ready to pounce: none other than God's gift to New York, Andrew Cuomo, who thrashed cash bail, blessed New York with the Raise the Age law, and even gave Gov. Hochul to all of New York. The other problem is the New York voter who continues to get robbed, raped and murdered and keeps coming back for more. Nicholas Maffei Bayside: I watched the mayoral debate. Waste of time. The moderators were very inexperienced. Why did Cuomo get most of the airtime? All of the candidates want to provide the impossible — more housing, police, counseling for mental health, and the greatest promise: guaranteed income. As a senior citizen who worked his whole life, please be advised that the only guarantees are death and taxes. No ideas for who is going to pay for all these promises? My conclusion: All the candidates hate Trump, which doesn't do me any good as a citizen of New York City. Timothy Collins Whitestone: New York City is most certainly in trouble. Look at this panel of Democratic mayoral candidates. One is more pathetic than the next. I hope come Election Day in November, New Yorkers use common sense and vote for the right candidate. Please don't vote for the party line, but for the right person. That's the only way we're gonna get New York City back. Gene O'Brien North Babylon, L.I.: There are key environmental bills stuck in the Assembly that Speaker Carl Heastie must act on. The Senate has already seen the light. We need the NY HEAT Act to lower our gas bills and clean our air and to stop spreading toxic sludge on farmlands that poisons our food supply and waterways. It's critical that we limit plastic packaging that contains toxic chemicals, doesn't break down and can't be recycled. Instead, tiny particles of plastics are building up in our bodies and brains. These bills all sound like no-brainers, but industry is against them. Why should large companies be in charge of our budgets and health? One specious argument of the food industry is that the cost of new packaging will make food more expensive for Black and Brown communities. Yet, these communities bear the brunt of plastics pollution and are least able to manage its ill effects. Alexa Marinos
