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OCR Page 1 of 9MATCH-E-BE-NASH-SHE-WISH BAND OF POTTAWATAMI
TALKING POINTS
For an
AMENDMENT TO THE FY 2000 INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS BILL
The Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians ("Gun Lake Tribe") were
recognized by the United States' Bureau of Acknowledgment last October, 1998, but the
City of Detroit, MI, wrongfully attempted to block the Tribe's federal recognition.
After months of legal battles, the United States finally granted Federal Recognition status
to the Gun Lake Tribe on August 23, 1999, thereby triggering the legal and moral
obligations of the treaties entered into by Pottawatomi Tribes between 1795) and 1833,
and also the Treaties of 1836 and 1855, whereby the Tribe ceded vast amounts of land
and resources to the United States.
Because of this status, the Gun Lake Tribe possesses powers of self-government and is on
"equal footing" with the other 557 Federally recognized Indian tribes, and therefore
entitled to receive the same federal health, education and housing subsidies from the
United States.
In addition, as a newly recognized tribe, the Gun Lake Tribe is entitled to receive start-up
costs to establish a strong and stable government, create a tribal infrastructure including
basic health and safety needs, and provide basic funds to carry out the day-to-day
responsibilities of a sovereign government.
The Gun Lake Tribe, however, has effectively been left out of the FY 2000 Interior
Appropriation's Bill altogether.
Further complicating the Tribe's efforts for Federal funding, August 3, 1999 was the
closing date for amendments to the Interior Appropriation's Bill meaning the Tribe may
not receive any funding to provide basic services to its members.
As a new tribe, the Gun Lake Tribe does not currently have any means of economic
development leaving the Tribe financially strapped.
Despite the Gun Lake Tribe's annual estimated budget of nearly $4.8 Million Dollars, the
Tribe is only seeking $600,000 for the very fundamental and basic needs of the Tribe.
The only effective manner in which the Tribe may receive funding is through an
Amendment to the Interior Appropriations Bill.
The Committee on Interior Appropriations should make an exception for the Gun Lake
Tribe given the Tribe's unique and unprecedented emergency situation and provide
funding within the FY 2000 Interior Appropriation's Bill.
To do otherwise is a severe violation of legal and moral obligations of the Gun Lake
Treaties and a breach of the United States' fiduciary duty and trust responsibility.
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