The Saginaw Chippewa Tribe and the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians are accusing Lansing, Michigan, Mayor Virg Bernero of making racially insensitive remarks about their opposition to an off-reservation casino.

Bernero reportedly said he was under fire from "bows and arrows" because he supports the off-reservation casino for the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. He also reportedly referred to a tribal member who has spoken out against the proposal as “Chief Chicken Little.”

"We call on Mayor Bernero to issue a public apology, take sensitivity training, and refrain from racially-charged language in the public discourse,” Saginaw Chippewa Chief Dennis Kequom said in a press release. “Racial slurs by government officials against Native Americans conjure images of a bygone era of destructive policies that resulted in centuries of genocide and poverty.”

“The mayor’s remarks are particularly offensive in light of the fact that he has partnered with the Sault Tribe on his casino aspirations," Kequom added.

Bernero's “Chief Chicken Little" remark was reportedly directed at James Nye, a lobbyist who is a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.

Get the Story:
Tribes: Lansing mayor made racial remarks about casino opposition (The Detroit Free Press 1/30)
Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe opposes planned casino in Lansing (Central Michigan Life 1/30)
Lansing casino announced — but that was easy part (Crain's Detroit 1/29)
How the Sault Tribe thinks the Lansing casino is legal (The Mt. Pleasant Morning Sun 1/29)
Sault tribe would pay $1.24M for city land (The Lansing State Journal 1/28)
Proposed Lansing, Fruitport casinos seeking approvals differently (The Muskegon Chronicle 1/28)
Gun Lake tribe says a Lansing casino would break Gun Lake Casino's compact with the state (The Kalamazoo Gazette 1/27)

Some Opinions:
Editorial: Lansing casino plan is a bad bet (The Livingston Daily 1/29)
Mickey Hirten: Jobs key to Lansing casino plan (The Lansing State Journal 1/29)
Brad Flory: Spreading casinos to cities like Jackson not so crazy anymore (The Jackson Citizen Patriot 1/28)

Related Stories:
Sault Tribe aiming for gaming land application this summer (1/27)
Sault Tribe invokes land claim for off-reservation casino site (1/26)
Land claim settlement act might aid off-reservation casino (1/25)
Editorial: Off-reservation casino worth pursuing in Michigan (1/25)
Another tribe opposed to off-reservation casino in Michigan (1/24)
Editorial: Sault Tribe off-reservation casino bad for Michigan (1/24)
Turtle Talk: An unrealistic timeline for off-reservation casino (1/23)
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe announces off-reservation casino plans (1/23)