Gun Lake Tribe brings in Bob Peters as new chairman

Monday, September 17, 2018  

The Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, also known as the Gun Lake Tribe, has a new leader.

Bob Peters won re-election to the tribe's governing body on August 28. He was then selected as chairman at a council meeting on September 13.

"I am honored and humbled to have been chosen chairman by my fellow tribal council members,” Peters said on Monday. “I want to thank our tribal citizens for their support in my re-election, and my mother and family for always being there to support me.”

Peters first joined the tribal council in 2014 and became treasurer starting in 2016. He previously worked for the Michigan-base tribe's gaming commission, where he helped open the Gun Lake Casino in Wayland. He also sits on the board of Gun Lake Investments, which oversees the tribe's non-gaming economic development efforts.

His efforts have earned him praise in surrounding community. He was named as one of the Grand Rapids Business Journal's "40 Under 40 Business Leaders” in West Michigan. He will accept his award at a ceremony in Grand Rapids in October 17.

With about 1,300 employees as of this summer, the Gun Lake Tribe is the fourth-largest employer in Allegan County. A large portion work at the casino, which was the subject of a protracted lawsuit that saw the tribe emerge victorious at the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year.

In addition to Peters, Nicole Overbeck and incumbent Jennie Pearl won election to the council last month.

The full council consists of:
Bob Peters, Chairman
Ed Pigeon, Vice Chairman
Jennie Pearl Heeren, Treasurer
Jeff Martin, Secretary
Phyllis Davis
Jodie Palmer
Nicole Overbeck

U.S. Supreme Court Decision in Patchak v. Zinke:
Syllabus | Judgment [Thomas] | Concurrence [Breyer] | Concurrence [Ginsburg] | Concurrence [Sotomayor] | Dissent [Roberts] | Full Document: Patchak v. Zinke

More U.S. Supreme Court Documents:
Oral Argument Transcript | Docket Sheet No. 16-498 | Questions Presented

D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Decision:
Patchak v. Jewell (July 15, 2016)

U.S. Supreme Court Decision:
Patchak v. Jewell (June 18, 2012)

Prior D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Decision:
Patchak v. Salazar (January 21, 2011)

Gun Lake Tribe seeks more trust land after victory at Supreme Court (March 19, 2018)
Gun Lake Tribe welcomes victory as Supreme Court puts end to homelands lawsuit (February 27, 2018)
Supreme Court sides with Indian Country in long-running homelands case (February 27, 2018)
National Congress of American Indians praises win in homelands case (February 27, 2018)