Native American

Statement from Gun Lake Tribe Chairman D.K. Spragu

"Senate Majority Ken Sikkema should have strong armed this resolution through the Senate back on December 7th, which commemorates the greatest sneak of attacks and deception.  Senator Sikkema used his political capital and might attempt to delay the sovergn rights of my tribe instead of using it to add more jobs to an area that could use them."

"Senator Sikkema should be ashamed of himself for discounting the support our tribe has received from thousands of West Michigan citizens and 34 separate organizations.  He has misled his Senate colleges and the people of Michigan through false and inaccurate statements about this project that are inconsisteny with the results of public opinion surveys and economic analysis of this project's benefits to our area and people."

Clearly, Senator Sikkema has zero respect for tribal governments and the programs and services we provide to our tribal members.  If he had his way we would all cease to exist."

"Our fight for fairness is far from over and we will prevail."

Native American gaming provides revenue for tribal members, such things are needed on a sovereign country, things like police protection, fire protection, emergency responders, medical care facilities, elder care programs, language classes for the Potawatomi, it is said that about 10 people in the world speak and write Potawatomi.  Cultural enrichment and classes, education programs, suicide programs......

It should also be noted that Ed Pigeon comes from this tribe and has been so instrumental in the Potawatomi language. The Gun Lake casino will go forward but it should be noted about the hardships that Senator Ken Sikkena has given this Potawatomi Tribe.

Press Release Link 
Gun Lake Main Site Link

Senator Ken Sikkema Link 

Blue Chip Unfazed

Post-Tribune

The owners of Blue Chip casino have announced that they are not worried bout the arrival of a new Potawatomi casino located in Kalamazo, Michigan.  Stating there is plenty of room in the Midwest market for more gaming.

The Gun Lake Casino will be located on a 147 acre parcel of land about 115 miles away from the Blue Chip Casino.  The Potawatomi tribe broke ground this last September.   Due to the bad Michigan economy, Gun Lake has scaled the project down by half of what it originally had planned.

To read the entire story link

Gun Lakes Casino Website link 

Click to enlarge

 

Gun Lake Casino's Last Steel Beam

A large crowd gathered to watch the last steel beam get hoisted in the air, it was decorated with an American flag and a small pine tree.  After a large crane maneuvered the last beam in place...To continue reading

To see the long journey for the Gun Lake Potawatomi to be able to build this casino that will pay for elders care, cultural development, education and many needed service please Click this link 

Photo by Charlotte Weick

Gun Lake Potawatomi Casino

Is under construction in Wayland Township, located between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo in Michigan.  It will be 83,000 square feet, and is scheduled to open at the end of this summer.

750 casino workers, 1,000 spin off jobs, 1,200 slot machines and 36 gaming tables.  The Gun Lake potawatomi have had to fight since 2002 to be able to open this casino to support very needed programs for the potawatomi people.  Programs like elders care, education, police protection, fire protection and cultural development.  I am so excited for them and what it means to them because they will have money to develop programs that will help all Native Americans.

(Click on the title to read the entire story)

This is what it will look like!

Location

  

Watch construction of casino link
Gun Lake Casino link