Grand Traverse Band out of land-into-trust 'hole'

Friday, December 14, 2007  

After years in a "black hole," the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians in Michigan finally have 132 acres in trust in Leelanau County, MIchigan.

The tribe had to complain to Washington, D.C., to get the application moving, said attorney Bill Rastetter. “The Michigan Agency of the BIA has finally pulled these parcels out of the administrative black hole they’ve been in for years, and is taking the actions they should have taken years ago to put these tribal lands in trust for the tribe," Rastetter told The Leelanau Enterprise.

The tribe owns 2,369 acres but only 733 acres are held in trust. The tribe was recognized in 1980 after completing the BIA's acknowledgment process.

Get the Story:
132 acres 'in trust' for GTB (The Leelanau Enterprise 12/14)

$rl Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians - http://www.gtb.nsn.us

Land-into-trust requests fall into BIA's 'black hole' (2/21)