"With Michigan's unemployment rate continuing to lead the nation, we are disappointed that a congressman from Detroit opposes legislation that would create more than 6,000 good union jobs for his city, county and state.

Even more disappointing, Rep. John Conyers Jr.'s letter included inaccurate information about the legislation.

The legislation (H.R.4115 and H.R.2176) would create a settlement that compensates the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and Bay Mills Indian Community for lands stolen from our ancestors more than 120 years ago.

The legislation would create new trust lands for the Sault Tribe in Romulus or Flint, where we would build a modern casino/hotel resort. The $300-million project would create more than 3,000 good jobs. Under the agreement, the tribe would pay more than $30 million a year to the state and millions more to local communities. The Bay Mills Indian Community would create a similar project in Port Huron. Contrary to Conyers' assertions, the settlement is not off-reservation gaming.

The legislation would create new Indian trust lands in exchange for the tribes extinguishing their claim to the lands. Also contrary to Conyers, the legislation is authorized by federal law and specifically allowed under Proposal 1, a constitutional amendment passed by Michigan voters in 2004. The Indian Gaming and Regulatory Act permits creating new trust lands -- at times long distances from a tribe's original reservation lands -- as a remedy for land unfairly taken from a tribe."

Get the Story:
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Chairman Aaron Payment Tribal land plan is fair deal for all of state (The Detroit Free Press 6/25)