Press Release 2/25/2011Cites Fraudulent Claims By Other Groups and Unequal Representation of All Mackinac Group Members.
Early this morning Consolidated Bahweting Ojibwa of Mackinac Tribes announces it does not currently support the Mackinac Group Compact citing the following reasons:
1. The lead attorney does not currently represent all parties. He only represents one: Barry Adam’s group est 2008 . Barry’s group has fraudulently claimed to be 64 (see document).
2. We are being pressured to sign a document as quickly as possible without obtaining the advice of our attorney.
3. Yesterday Consolidated Bahweting Ojibwa and Mackinac Tribe #64 announced we were consulting an attorney to go over the compact, the next day we were removed as one of the compact signers.
4. Barry Adam's attorney has apparently self-appointed a representative to go to Washington without consulting all groups which essentially violates the compact where all parties make decisions by consensus.
5. Other groups are not allowed to participate, and some of the groups that are, claim to be representatives of groups they are not.
Link attached to complete story.
9 comments:
I am confused....who are the real MacBand ?
Who are their legitimate representatives ?
Is the U.S. Government as confused ?
Will this hurt their chances ?
All of the people belonging to the different groups are legitimate Mackinac Tribe members and yes, this will hurt their chances if the current conflicts are not resolved.
First, consider that the Sault Tribe was (for the most part) a splinter group of Bay Mills and compare that to this situation with two exceptions.
John Causley's group claiming to be 186 is not legitimate because he was removed as chairman of 186 years ago (lots of questionable activity involving grant funds). 186 does exist (represented by Vada Wait)but they are having difficulty due to much infighting and indecision.
Barry Adams group claims to be Mackinac Tribe and is also claiming to be petitioner 64 (the original petitioner was Mike Wright). Adams and half of 186 formed the Mackinac Tribe on the advice of Alaskan attorney, Mike Walleri.
But the truth is that the name Mackinac Tribe was already being represented by the original Consolidated Bahweting Ojibwa and Mackinac Tribe-petitioner 64, Chairman Mike Wright, and now, for the last several years, by his son, Nathan Wright.
The US government fully understands the situation and has suggested that inner conflicts be resolved before they will even consider moving forward.
They have also indicated that the Vada Wait group and the John Causley group (both claiming to represent petitioner 186)have failed to produce the required documents as requested and have, therefore, been placed on inactive status. The Dept of Interior states in a letter, "OFA would not expend time and resources dealing with Petitioner 186 (Wait and Causley)until the required materials are received and reviewed." The letter also states that they must work together to resolve internal leadership disputes.
So...currently it is the Mackinac Tribe-Petitioner 64- who is at the head of the class. Adams group has chosen to claim the title of Petiioner 64 even though they had nothing to do with the formation of the original Consolidated Bahweting Ojibwa & Mackinac Tribe #64 or the continuity of their history other than the possession of certain documents.
I declare with absolute certainty that the above is true. I served as a director on both the Mackinac Bands board and the Barry Adams Mackinac Tribe board but left both for a variety of reasons, some of which were due to mass misrepresentation, power struggles and the lack of willingness to stick to positive goals for all the Mackinac Tribe people. I have also reviewed numerous documents related to the cause of John Causley's removal from the Mackinac Bands and they had at least 500,000 reasons to remove him, if not more.
If the leaders of all groups would resolve to unite and move forward, possibly creating a central government while maintaining their individual groups until the required election takes place, the chances of success would be tremendous. The only leader in my opinion that is willing to do the right thing on behalf of the Mackinac Tribe is Nathan Wright.
One more note...when the time comes, you cannot be a member of another tribe and must give up your membership and rights to that tribe to become a bonafide member of the Consolidated Bahweting Ojibwa and Mackinac Tribe #64.
There are a few entities. Some have more history than others. Some have a larger membership roll than others. As to who is legit, that is up to the people to decide as they need to look at the facts. I would like to see an election happen ASAP to make the legitimacy more clearer.
For now, I would tend to trust those who have been around longer than others and who have a proven history of defending Mackinac Bands members and their rights.
The USA government is confused as far as the Office of Federal Acknowledgement is concerned. It does not reflect will on all groups. But still tribes fight. It does show we exist and care about our members. So much that we sometimes disagree. But the USA government is obligated to respect and recognize our treaty rights.
It is expected tribal members will not agree on everything. What is not expected are fraudulent groups claiming to be who they are not as what is happening here. Would you want someone to claiming to be you?
Would you play ball when you already know the game is rigged? Which is another component as to what is happening here.
I and others are merely a conduit to help federal recognition for Mackinac Bands and to fulfill my father’s wishes. Titles, temporary or ? do not matter to me at this time. People will decide whomever they want on the Mackinac Tribes council once the new constitution is accepted. I have an always will respect our peoples wishes.
Sounds to me like this is the opportunity for Mackinac Band descendents who are currently members of the Sailt Tribe to trade their seats on the Titanic.
Are you saying the Sault Tribe is not a sinking ship?
I am saying it doesn't matter what seat you take on the titanic it's not a good one.
ah I gotcha. But I would say MB has more of a chance once it is recognized. Until then....
Mack band people need to DISENROLL from Sault tribe if we even think we stand a chance at being federally recognized. Unite! And DISENROLL! It's the only way the federal government will see us as being legal. Nobody will believe we have a claim to sovereignty if we continue with the Sault tribe. I have been waiting my whole life for Nathan Wright to step into his father's shoes and lead us into the light. We deserve to be our own tribe! Sault tribe has done nothing for us and has used our numbers to get where they are now!! Let's show them we can stand united. We don't need their help or their pity! Piss on them and DISENROLL people!!! It's time we get this done for ourselves. Nathan is our born leader and I know he can get this done for us! The federal government will not even consider us if we continue to live under the shadow of Sault tribe.
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