Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi
Encyclopedia
The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi (NHBP) is a federally recognized Potawatomi
Indian
tribe
. The Tribe received its federal recognition on December 19, 1995. The NHBP are not connected with the Iroquoian tribe, Huron. The NHBP reservation is located at 42°06′18"N 85°15′40"W in Athens Township
in southwestern Calhoun County
in southern Michigan
. It has a land area of 129.4 acre (523,663.7 m²). The Tribe has approximately 800 members.
, a 236000 square feet (21,925.1 m²) casino with an attached 2,078 space parking garage on 78 acres (315,655.1 m²) located in Battle Creek, Michigan.
. Government by an elected Tribal Council is established.
1995 – After years of documentation and several failed attempts, the United States government restores federal recognition to the tribe on December 19.
1998 – The Tribe purchases a 155 acres (627,263.3 m²) property on Q Drive in present-day 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 first group of single family, energy-efficient homes is constructed on the Reservation.
2006 – A Tribal court is established.
2007 – A Community Center and Health Center are constructed. A 79 acres (319,701.9 m²) parcel of property in Emmett Township is placed into Federal trust on behalf of the Tribe. The Tribe places 75 acres (303,514.5 m²) of the Q Drive property into the USDA wetland reserve program.
2008 – Construction begins on FireKeepers Casino.
2009 – FireKeepers Casino opens on August 5, 2009.
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.
Potawatomi
The Potawatomi are a Native American people of the upper Mississippi River region. They traditionally speak the Potawatomi language, a member of the Algonquian family. In the Potawatomi language, they generally call themselves Bodéwadmi, a name that means "keepers of the fire" and that was applied...
Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
tribe
Tribe
A tribe, viewed historically or developmentally, consists of a social group existing before the development of, or outside of, states.Many anthropologists use the term tribal society to refer to societies organized largely on the basis of kinship, especially corporate descent groups .Some theorists...
. The Tribe received its federal recognition on December 19, 1995. The NHBP are not connected with the Iroquoian tribe, Huron. The NHBP reservation is located at 42°06′18"N 85°15′40"W in Athens Township
Athens Township, Michigan
Athens Township is a civil township of southwest Calhoun County in the U.S. state of Michigan, about 15 miles south of Battle Creek. It is part of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,571.-History:Euro-American settlers...
in southwestern Calhoun County
Calhoun County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-69* I-94* I-194* I-94 Business Loop serves the city of Albion.* I-94 Business Loop serves the city of Battle Creek.* I-94 Business Loop serves the city of Marshall.-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-37* M-60* M-66* M-78* M-89* M-96* M-99...
in southern Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. It has a land area of 129.4 acre (523,663.7 m²). The Tribe has approximately 800 members.
Government
The NHBP is governed by a 5-member tribal council, which includes the following executive officers: Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and Sergeant-at-Arms.FireKeepers Casino
The NHBP own FireKeepers CasinoFireKeepers Casino
FireKeepers Casino is a casino located in Emmett Charter Township, Michigan, between Battle Creek and Marshall. It is owned by the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi and managed by Gaming Entertainment , L.L.C., a joint venture between Full House Resorts and RAM Entertainment...
, a 236000 square feet (21,925.1 m²) casino with an attached 2,078 space parking garage on 78 acres (315,655.1 m²) located in Battle Creek, Michigan.
Tribal Departments
The NHBP administration is divided into the Operations Department, Finance Department, Enrollment Department, Education Department, Housing Department, Health Department, and Language Department.Tribal Timeline of Events
1970 – The Tribe is incorporated in the state of MichiganMichigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Government by an elected Tribal Council is established.
1995 – After years of documentation and several failed attempts, the United States government restores federal recognition to the tribe on December 19.
1998 – The Tribe purchases a 155 acres (627,263.3 m²) property on Q Drive in present-day 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
Athens, Michigan
Athens is a village in Calhoun County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,111 at the 2000 census. The village is located in southern Athens Township, and is part of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was settled in 1831.-Geography:According to the United...
.
2005 – The first group of single family, energy-efficient homes is constructed on the Reservation.
2006 – A Tribal court is established.
2007 – A Community Center and Health Center are constructed. A 79 acres (319,701.9 m²) parcel of property in Emmett Township is placed into Federal trust on behalf of the Tribe. The Tribe places 75 acres (303,514.5 m²) of the Q Drive property into the USDA wetland reserve program.
2008 – Construction begins on FireKeepers Casino.
2009 – FireKeepers Casino opens on August 5, 2009.
2010 - Nottawaseppi Huron Band chairwoman Laura Spurr
Laura Spurr
Laura Spurr was the American chairwoman of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi, a federally recognized Potawatomi Indian tribe based in Calhoun County, Michigan, from 2003 until her death in 2010.-Personal life and career:Spurr was born Laura Alonzo Wesley in Battle Creek, Michigan, on...
, who had served in that position since 2003 and helped to develop the FireKeepers Casino, dies on February 19, 2010.
See also
- AnishinaabeAnishinaabeAnishinaabe or Anishinabe—or more properly Anishinaabeg or Anishinabek, which is the plural form of the word—is the autonym often used by the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Algonquin peoples. They all speak closely related Anishinaabemowin/Anishinaabe languages, of the Algonquian language family.The meaning...
- Council of Three FiresCouncil of Three FiresThe Council of Three Fires, also known as the People of the Three Fires, the Three Fires Confederacy, the United Nations of Chippewa, Ottawa, and Potawatomi Indians, or Niswi-mishkodewin in the Anishinaabe language, is a long-standing Anishinaabe alliance of the Ojibwe , Ottawa , and Potawatomi...
- PotawatomiPotawatomiThe Potawatomi are a Native American people of the upper Mississippi River region. They traditionally speak the Potawatomi language, a member of the Algonquian family. In the Potawatomi language, they generally call themselves Bodéwadmi, a name that means "keepers of the fire" and that was applied...
- Notawasepe Potawatamie ReservationNotawasepe Potawatamie ReservationThe Notawasepe Potawatamie Reservation was the home of the principal ancestors of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi starting in 1821. The reservation was disbanded in 1833....
home of many of the bands ancestors in the 1820s.
External links
- Official Website of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi
- Tribal Profile by Bob Van Alstine, Grants Writer/Historian for the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan