A view of Burt Lake in Michigan, the ancestral territory of the Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. Photo by H.G.Judd via Wikipedia

The Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians in Michigan is once again seeking federal recognition.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs rejected the tribe's petition in a decision that became final in January 2007. Since then, the tribe has repeatedly asked Congress for federal status.

"The Burt Lake Band has a long and well-documented history in Michigan and they deserve to be recognized as the sovereign nation they are," Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Michigan), one of the sponsors of H.R.3848, the Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians Reaffirmation Act, said in a press release, The Boyne Gazette reported.

In the past, the BIA opposed legislative recognition because it doesn't believe the Burt Lake Band qualifies. But the Obama administration has eased its position at least with respect to Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians in Montana, whose petition also was denied through the Office of Federal Acknowledgment. That situation might be viewed differently, though, because a reconsideration has been ordered within the agency.

Get the Story:
Burt Lake Band could be Michigan’s 14th Tribe (The Boyne Gazette 10/28)

Related Stories:
Burt Lake Band lobbies for legislative recognition (6/19)
BIA supports two land-into-trust trust bills (6/14)
Cason finalizes decision against Burt Lake Band (9/22)
Anderson denies recognition to Burt Lake Band (03/29)