Saginaw Chippewa Tribe

Many tribes are purchasing land and then asking to put the land into trust.  That is what the Saginaw Chippewa tribe is and has been doing.

When land is in trust, there is no question of Tribal sovereignty on that land.  There's also no question that land in trust is not taxable by local governments.  When a tribe owns land that's not in trust, it has to pay taxes on the land.

Once land is put into trust, it is very difficult to take out of trust, it can't be sold.  The Tribe doesn't really own it.

Isabella County does not want the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe to be able to put more than 400 acres of land into trust, partially because of lost tax revenue.

The Saginaw Chippewa Tribe is closing the Soaring Eagle Inn and Conference Center to make a 45,000 square foot indoor water park and 120 room hotel that is expected to open in spring of 2011. 
(Click on the title of this story for the source)

Water park link

Things the tribe owns link