Governor, Tribal Leaders Sign
Accord on Water; Executive Directive Issued on Tribal, State
Relations
LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and the
leaders of the 12 federally acknowledged Indian tribes in Michigan today signed
an intergovernmental accord stating their commitment to the preservation,
restoration, and enhancement of the Great Lakes ecosystem and pledged to work
together to clean up the pollutants now present in the waters, eliminate exotic
species, maintain and preserve diverse water resource habitats, and prevent
future contaminants, exotics, and depletion of the
waters.
“Native Americans in
Michigan are the state’s original environmentalists, and collectively, they have
an unparalleled appreciation for our natural resources,” Granholm said.
“There is no single resource more important to the future of our state than the
water that defines it, and I am pleased that the 12 Indian tribes in Michigan
are working with us to ensure that our water remains a valuable resource for
generations to come.”
As a
result of the accord, the Governor’s representatives and those of the tribal
leaders will meet twice a year to review the quantity and quality of our water
resources and develop strategies for protecting them. Those
strategies will include recommendations for state, federal, and tribal
legislation and international treaties; coordination of permitting activities;
and cooperation enforcement of water protection
laws.
In addition to
Granholm, accord signers included:
Jeffrey D. Parker, president, Bay
Mills Indian Community;
Robert Kewaygoshkum, tribal chairman, Grand
Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians;
Kenneth Meshigaud, tribal
chairman, Hannahville Indian Community;
William E. Emery, tribal council
president, Keweenaw Bay Indian
Community;
Richard McGeshick, Sr., tribal
chairman, Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians;
Lee
Sprague, Ogema, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians;
Frank Ettawageshik,
tribal chairman, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians;
David K.
Sprague, tribal chairman, Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi
Indians;
Laura Spurr, tribal chairman, Nottawaseppi Huron Band of
Potawatomi Indians;
John Miller, tribal chairman, Pokagon Band of
Potawatomi Indians;
Audrey Falcon, tribal chief, Saginaw Chippewa
Indian tribe of Michigan; and,
Bernard Bouschor, tribal chairman, Sault
Ste. Marie tribe of Chippewa Indians.
Today’s tribal summit fulfills a
commitment called for in a tribal state accord signed in December 2002.
That accord called for annual meetings between the Governor and the tribal
chairs of Michigan’s 12 federally acknowledged Indian tribes, and Granholm has
pledged to honor the accord.
In keeping with her support, Governor
Granholm issued Executive Directive 2004-5 that incorporates and expands on
commitments outlined in Executive Directive 2001-2, which today’s directive
replaces.
“Continually improving communications and
understanding between our state and the 12 nations will serve us well in the
years to come,” Granholm noted. “Just as we have formalized relationships
with our neighboring states and the federal government, so, too, is it
imperative that we have a formal relationship with the tribal communities in
Michigan who are an important part of our history, our culture, and our
future.”
The executive
directive outlines fundamental principles regarding the federally acknowledged
Indian tribes, including that the tribes are sovereign governmental entities,
possess authority to exercise jurisdiction over their respective lands and
citizens, and possess the right to
self-governance.
The directive
is designed to carry out the commitments made by the State of Michigan in its
October 28, 2002, government-to-government accord with the tribes and calls on
the Governor’s advisor on tribal-state affairs to represent the Governor on the
tribal-state forum established under the accord.
The forum will monitor
implementation of the accord, organize an annual meeting or summit between the
Governor and the tribal chairs, and foster improve government-to-government
communications between the state executive office and tribal
governments.
# # #