Scott Sprague is the new chairman of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, also known as the Gun Lake Tribe. Photo courtesy MBPI
The Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians in Michigan, also known as the Gun Lake Tribe, has a new leader in what has been a big year of change. Scott Sprague was selected as chairman at a council meeting last Thursday. He comes the post after two years as secretary of the tribe. “This is one of the proudest moments of my life not only because I am now the leader of a sovereign nation, but also because it’s a continuation of many generations of my family leading this tribe,” Sprague said in a press release on Monday. “I will work every day to move the tribe forward, while also maintaining our commitment to being a first-class employer, and a responsible government-to-government partner with our counterparts at the federal, state and local levels.” The tribe's leadership has seen some major changes this year. D.K.Sprague announced his retirement as chairman in February after 24 years on the job, a period that saw the Gun Lake people regain federal recognition and re-establish a homeland. In June, Sprague's daughter, Leah Sprague-Fodor, was selected by the council to serve as chair. But she lost her seat on the the tribe's governing body in an August 23 election, according to results posted by the tribe on Facebook. Besides Scott Sprague as chair, the tribal council consists of: Ed Pigeon, Vice Chairman; Bob Peters, Treasurer; Jeff Martin, Secretary; Phyllis Davis; Jennie Pearl Heeren; and Jodie Palmer.
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Lake Tribe selects familiar name to succeed retired chairman (06/13) Gun Lake Tribe announces retirement of longtime chair D.K. Sprague (02/04)
