In the last decade, the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe has spent more than $14 million in an effort to block a proposed casino by a rival Chippewa tribe in Port Huron.

But to the Saginaw Chippewas, the issue is about a lot more than dollars and cents.

Representatives from the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and the Bay Mills Indian Community will be in Washington, D.C. at 2 p.m. today for a federal hearing about a land settlement that would clear the way for the Port Huron casino. Officials from the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians also will be in attendance to discuss its proposal for a casino in Romulus.

Bay Mills’ plans to locate a casino on Saginaw Chippewa’s ancestral land will never be supported by the tribe, said Joseph Sowmick, director of public relations for the tribe.

“It is clearly within the ancestral lines of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe,” Sowmick said. “We’re prepared to show that in documentation, and part of the documentation is the treaties that have been (agreed to) by the government with the Chippewa tribe.”

Bay Mills is based near Brimley in the Upper Peninsula. It has been pursuing the Port Huron site since 1993.

The Port Huron area was home to the Saginaw tribe’s descendants, the Blackwater River band, from 1807 to 1836 on a 1,287-acre reservation.

Sowmick said Michigan’s Native American tribes made a pact that stated no business venture could be placed on other tribes’ ancestral lands without the consent of all 12 tribes.

“I don’t think it’s our role as a state government to be interfering with the tribal compacts, or the agreements they may (have) had amongst themselves,” said state Rep. Bill Caul, R-Mount Pleasant. “They’re a sovereign nation, so it’s pretty impossible for us to do that.”

“What we need to be able to do is to be in wait and keep the lines of communication open with whatever tribe is moving forward. Once they have been given the green light by the federal government, and if they are able to meet all requirements, we can put their land in trust and negotiate with them, so we can capture some dollars that can benefit the state.”

The two bills in question at the hearing would grant the tribes federal permission to go ahead with casino plans in the respective areas. In return, the tribes must surrender a land claim to Charlotte Beach, a subdivision on the St. Mary’s River.

Port Huron voters approved the casino by a vote of 3,111 to 2,628 on June 26, 2001. Since then, it has been blocked multiple times when sent to the federal level, most recently in November. But recent support from state officials, such as Gov. Jennifer Granholm and perseverance from house representative Bart Stupak, D-Menominee, who sponsored one of the two bills, have revived the effort.

“Certainly I think Gov. Granholm wants to see employment opportunities for the state of Michigan,” Sowmick said. “I can definitely support what she’s doing in those regards in trying to bring jobs to the state. But to be cognizant of the tribe’s land base, I think there (should be) a certain amount of respect between governments.”

Sowmick said Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Chief Fred Cantu, Jr., will lobby in front of the House Natural Resources Committee today. Sowmick also will be in attendance.

The tribe has spent millions since the proposal was first brought forth, including payments in 2005 to former lobbyist Jack Ambramoff, who pleaded guilty on charges of fraud for misleading Indian tribes out of millions of dollars and extorting money by threatening to lobby for the other side.

“We look forward to hearing the dialogue of the chairman of the Sault Ste. Marie tribe and the chairman of the Bay Mills Tribe because we haven’t had an opportunity to talk to them personally on the issue,” Sowmick said. “I kind of look at it as unfortunate that we’re going to have to do it in that manner.”

Proponents of the casino contend the attraction would provide both the city and state with a much-needed economic boost.

Bay Mills officials could not be reached for comment.

James P. Hill, CMU’s Honors Program director, completed a 10-year study on the effect of Michigan tribal casinos in August. He said today’s hearing is yet another step to move forward.

“This is not a done deal. These things are always protracted,” Hill said. “Then there will be groups that have concerns about gaming in general – moral groups. I don’t worry that something’s going to happen (today), because there’s always another tomorrow.”

Sowmick said he is surprised the proposal made it this far because of the legal documents that backs up the Saginaw tribe’s position.

“I think it’s very clear with tribal sovereignty,” he said. “Part of the idea of sovereignty is doing what you need to do for the benefit of your tribal membership. To be able to do that on your own land, that’s the contention we’re making.”

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