Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi

Federally-recognized Potawatomi tribe in the United States

"Nottawasepe" and other similar spelling redirect here; the Nottawa Creek in Michigan is also known by similar names.

Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi

Tribal Flag

Total population
About 1500
Regions with significant populations
Michigan
Languages
English, formerly Potawatomi
Religion
Christianity, traditional tribal religion
Related ethnic groups
Other Potawatomi, Ojibwe, Odawa

The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi (NHBP) is a federally-recognized tribe of Potawatomi in the United States. The tribe achieved federal recognition on December 19, 1995, and currently has approximately 1500 members.[1]

The Pine Creek Indian Reservation is located at 42°06′18″N 85°15′40″W﻿ / ﻿42.10500°N 85.26111°W﻿ / 42.10500; -85.26111 in Athens Township in southwestern Calhoun County in southwestern Michigan. It has a land area of a little over 199 acres. It has purchased an additional 230 acres of land for its use and operates a gaming casino in Battle Creek.

## Name[edit]

Despite the name, this band of Potawatomi has no direct connection with the unrelated Huron people. Rather, both "Nottawaseppi" and "Huron" refer to the band's historical location along the Clinton River in southeastern Michigan. This river was formerly known as the Nottawasippee River or the Huron River of St. Clair. The root Nottawa in Nottawasippee is an Ojibwe ethnic slur meaning "like rattlesnakes", referring to the Huron people, who inhabited the area prior to the arrival of the Potawatomi, Odawa and Ojibwe.[2][3][4]

## History[edit]

In the 19th century, especially, the Potawatomi people and closely related tribes of Odawa and Ojibwe peoples of the Anishinaabe were affiliated as the Council of Three Fires. All these peoples were highly decentralized and bands operated independently. During the 17th and 18th centuries, numerous bands moved into what is now Michigan.

The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi signed a treaty with the United States to cede much of its land in 1820, and was assigned a smaller portion of land as its reservation. It is located at 42°06′18″N 85°15′40″W﻿ / ﻿42.10500°N 85.26111°W﻿ / 42.10500; -85.26111 in Athens Township in southwestern Calhoun County.

In the 20th century, the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act was intended to encourage tribes to set up self-government. The nine historic bands of Odawa, Ojibwe and Potawatomi in Michigan were not covered by this act and later had to achieve federal recognition or reaffirmation as tribes independently, a process that continues.

The band organized to regain self-government, gaining reaffirmation of its status as a tribe in 1995 by Congressional legislation. Their homeland headquarters are in Wakeshma Township, near Athens, in the southwestern region of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. This is about 17 miles southwest of Battle Creek (about 22 miles by vehicle route).[5] Athens Township is within the major city's metropolitan area. The Band also maintains satellite offices in Grand Rapids, about 74 miles north of Fulton/Athens.[6] The service area of the tribe includes the reservation as well as members living in Kalamazoo, Calhoun, Ottawa, Kent and Allegan counties.[7]

## Government[edit]

The NHBP is governed by a written constitution and an elected 5-member tribal council. This includes the following executive officers: Chairperson, Vice-chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and Sergeant-at-Arms.

### Tribal Court[edit]

The NHBP Tribal Court was established in 2006. It is run by a Tribal Chief Justice.

### Tribal departments[edit]

The NHBP administration is divided into departments for Administration, Bkedé O Mshiké, Communications, Culture, Finance, Environmental, Government Records, Human Resources, Information Technology, Legal, Membership Services, Planning, Public Works, Social Services and Tribal Historic Preservation Office.[8]

## Economy[edit]

The NHBP own FireKeepers Casino, a 236,000-square-foot (21,900 m2) casino with an attached 2,078-space parking garage on 78 acres (320,000 m2) located in Battle Creek, Michigan. This operation is governed by a compact with the state of Michigan. The NHBP also owns Waséyabek Development Company, LLC, to foster economic self-sufficiency through non-gaming business acquisitions, developments and investments.

## Tribal timeline of events[edit]

* 1970 – The Tribe is incorporated in the state of Michigan. Government by a written constitution and an elected Tribal Council is established.
* 1995 – The United States government restores federal recognition to the tribe on December 19.
* 1998 – The Tribe purchases a 155-acre (630,000 m2) property on Q Drive near Fulton, Michigan.
* 2000 – An administration building is constructed.
* 2003 – A multi-use trail system is constructed.
* 2004 – Road construction begins. On August 7, the Athens Arch is dedicated by the Athens Superintendent of Schools at Athens High School. The arch commemorates the history of the Huron Potawatomi and the cordial relations between the tribe and the town of Athens, Michigan.
* 2005 – The tribe constructs its first group of single family, energy-efficient homes on the Reservation.
* 2006 – A Tribal court is established.
* 2007 – A Community Center and Health Center are constructed. A 79-acre (320,000 m2) parcel of property in Emmett Township is placed into Federal trust on behalf of the Tribe. The Tribe places 75 acres (300,000 m2) of the Q Drive property into the USDA wetland reserve program.
* 2008 – Construction begins on FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek, Michigan.
* 2009 – FireKeepers Casino opens on August 5, 2009.[9]
* 2010 – Nottawaseppi Huron Band chairwoman Laura Spurr, who had served in that position since 2003 and helped to develop the FireKeepers Casino, dies on February 19, 2010.[10]

## See also[edit]

* Anishinaabe
* Council of Three Fires
* Potawatomi
* Notawasepe Potawatamie Reservation, established by treaty of 1820 with the United States and home of many of the band's ancestors in the 1820s.

## References[edit]

1. ^ "About NHBP". Retrieved May 26, 2021.
2. ^ "Child of the ice age: The Clinton River". MSU Extension. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
3. ^ Leeson, Michael A. (2005) [1882]. "Organization". History of Macomb County. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan Library. p. 297. Retrieved 2006-10-01.
4. ^ "History of Macomb County, Michigan : containing ... biographical sketches, portraits of prominent men and early settlers : the whole preceded by a history of Michigan ..." umich.edu. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
5. ^ Fulton, MI to Battle Creek, MI, Distance between Cities Website, accessed 2 January 2016
6. ^ Fulton, MI to Grand Rapids, MI, Distance between Cities website, accessed 2 January 2016
7. ^ "Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi", Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan, 11 October 2012, accessed 2 January 2016
8. ^ "About NHBP". Retrieved September 23, 2022.
9. ^ "Laura Spurr, tribal chairwoman of Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi dies in California". Kalamazoo Gazette. Mlive.com. 2010-02-19. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
10. ^ Hicks, Mark (2010-03-01). "Laura Spurr, Grosse Pointe Park, Leader gave 'whatever it took' to support her tribe". Detroit News. Retrieved 2010-03-09.

* Huron Potawatomi Reservation, Michigan United States Census Bureau
* Tribal History, Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi

## External links[edit]

* Official Website of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi
* Bob Van Alstine, Tribal Profile: "Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi", Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan

* v
* t
* e

Native American Tribes in Michigan

Federally recognized|

* Bay Mills
* Grand Traverse
* Hannahville
* L'Anse
* Lac Vieux Desert
* Little River
* Little Traverse
* Match-e-be-nash-she-wish
* Nottawaseppi Huron
* Pokagon
* Saginaw Chippewa
* Sault

State recognized|

* Burt Lake
* Grand River Band of Ottawa Indians
* Mackinac (L'Arbre Croche)
* Swan Creek Black River Confederated Ojibwa Tribes of Michigan

* v
* t
* e

Anishinaabe

Culture|

* Anishinabek Educational Institute
* birchbark biting
* Birchbark scrolls
* Clan system
* Dreamcatcher
* Drumkeeper
* Jingle dress
* Manitou
* Medicine wheel
* Grand Medicine Society
* Nanabozho
* Ojibwe language
* Ottawa dialect
* Powwow
* Quillwork
* Ribbon work
* Traditional beliefs
* Wampum

Political
organizations|

* Anishinabek Nation
* Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
* Chiefs of Ontario
* Council of Three Fires
* Grand Council of Treaty 3
* Grand Council of Treaty 8
* Great Lakes Inter-tribal Council
* Inter-tribal Council of Michigan
* Minnesota Indian Affairs Council
* Nishnawbe Aski Nation
* Independent First Nations Alliance
* Keewaytinook Okimakanak Council
* Matawa First Nations
* Mishkeegogamang First Nation
* Mocreebec Council of the Cree Nation
* Mushkegowuk Council
* Sandy Lake First Nation
* Shibogama First Nations Council
* Wabun Tribal Council
* Weenusk First Nation
* Windigo First Nations Council

* v
* t
* e

Rights of Native Americans in the United States

Case law|

* Johnson v. McIntosh (1823)
* Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831)
* Worcester v. Georgia (1832)
* Fellows v. Blacksmith (1857)
* New York ex rel. Cutler v. Dibble (1858)
* Standing Bear v. Crook (D. Neb. 1879)
* Ex parte Crow Dog (1883)
* Elk v. Wilkins (1884)
* Seneca Nation of Indians v. Christy (1896)
* Talton v. Mayes (1896)
* Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock (1903)
* United States v. Santa Fe Pacific Railroad Co. (1941)
* Tee-Hit-Ton Indians v. United States (1955)
* Williams v. Lee (1959)
* Federal Power Commission v. Tuscarora Indian Nation (1960)
* Menominee Tribe v. United States (1968)
* McClanahan v. Arizona State Tax Commission (1973)
* Oneida Indian Nation of New York v. County of Oneida (1974)
* Bryan v. Itasca County (1976)
* United States v. Antelope (1977)
* Santa Clara Pueblo v. Martinez (1978)
* Merrion v. Jicarilla Apache Tribe (1982)
* Solem v. Bartlett (1984)
* County of Oneida v. Oneida Indian Nation of New York State (1985)
* South Carolina v. Catawba Indian Tribe, Inc. (1986)
* Hodel v. Irving (1987)
* Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians v. Holyfield (1989)
* Duro v. Reina (1990)
* South Dakota v. Bourland (1993)
* Idaho v. Coeur d'Alene Tribe of Idaho (1997)
* Idaho v. United States (2001)
* United States v. Lara (2004)
* City of Sherrill v. Oneida Indian Nation of New York (2005)
* Cobell v. Salazar (D.C. Cir. 2009)
* Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl (2013)
* Sharp v. Murphy and McGirt v. Oklahoma (2020)
* Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta (2022)

* List of United States Supreme Court cases involving Indian tribes

Legislation|

* Blood quantum laws (1705 onwards)
* Nonintercourse Act (1790,1793,1796,1799,1802,1834)
* Civilization Act (1819)
* Indian Removal Act (1830)
* Dawes Act (1887)
* Curtis Act (1898)
* Burke Act (1906)
* Indian Citizenship Act (1924)
* Indian Reorganization Act (1934)
* Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act (1936)
* Nationality Act (1940)
* Public Law 280 (1953)
* Indian Relocation Act (1956)
* Indian Civil Rights Act (1968)
* Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (1971)
* Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (1975)
* American Indian Religious Freedom Act (1978)
* Indian Child Welfare Act (1978)
* Diminishment (1984)
* Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (1988)
* Native American Languages Act (1990)
* Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (1990)
* Indian Arts and Crafts Act (1990)

Federal and
State recognition|

* Federal recognition of Native Hawaiians
* Legal status of Hawaii
* Federally recognized tribes
* State recognized tribes

Related|

* Aboriginal title
* Bureau of Indian Affairs
* Cherokee Commission
* Dawes Rolls
* Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
* Eagle feather law
* Eagle-bone whistle
* Hunting license
* In the Courts of the Conqueror
* Indian reservations
* Long Walk of the Navajo
* National Indian Gaming Commission
* Native American civil rights
* Native American gaming
* Native American Rights Fund
* Recognition of sacred sites
* Seminole Wars
* Survivance
* Trail of Tears
* Treaty rights
* Tribal sovereignty
* Self-determination
* United States Congress Joint Special Committee on Conditions of Indian Tribes

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Calhoun County, Michigan, United States

County seat: Marshall

Cities|

* Albion
* Battle Creek
* Marshall
* Springfield

Map of Michigan highlighting Calhoun County

Villages|

* Athens
* Burlington
* Homer
* Tekonsha
* Union City‡

Charter
townships|

* Bedford
* Emmett
* Pennfield

General law
townships|

* Albion
* Athens
* Burlington
* Clarence
* Clarendon
* Convis
* Eckford
* Fredonia
* Homer
* Lee
* Leroy
* Marengo
* Marshall
* Newton
* Sheridan
* Tekonsha

CDPs|

* Brownlee Park
* Level Park–Oak Park

Other
unincorporated
communities|

* Albion Landing
* Ceresco
* East Leroy

Indian reservation|

* Pine Creek Indian Reservation

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* Michigan portal
* United States portal

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template