A view of Little Traverse Bay in Michigan. Photo from Pure Michigan

The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians sued the state of Michigan in August to clarify the boundaries of its reservation.

The 1855 Treaty of Detroit set aside a 336 square-mile reservation, according to the tribe's history. The lawsuit seeks a recognition of those boundaries in order to clarify its jurisdiction and sovereignty.

"The tribe is suing to have the territorial boundaries recognized, they’re not suing to take land, or evict anyone," attorney Jessica Intermill told The Petoskey News-Review. "All of this land will still be within Michigan when it’s done."

The lawsuit hasn't received much attention in the local media. But it has attracted the city of Petoskey, whose leaders are seeking to intervene to make sure their concerns are heard, the paper reported.

Turtle Talk has posted the complaint in the case, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians v. Snyder, and the state's answer.

Get the Story:
1855 treaty in spotlight (The Petoskey News-Review 1/25)

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Little Traverse Bay Bands seek clarity on reservation boundary (04/29)