Handbook introduces tribal law to students

In recognition of Native American Heritage Month and coinciding with its fall meeting this month, the Michigan Tribal State Federal Judicial Forum (“Forum”) is helping to launch a new handbook titled, “Anishinaabe Law: A Tribal Law Handbook for Michigan Legal Practitioners.” The handbook is designed to bring awareness of Tribal law to first-year law school students (1L) and legal practitioners in Michigan.

This new tool includes an overview of Tribal law, background on Michigan’s 12 federally-recognized Tribes, and key caselaw examples that correspond with 1L courses.

“State and federal courts often work collaboratively with Tribal courts across Michigan, so I am pleased that law students now have this comprehensive resource to help them learn more about Native American Law in our great state,” said Justice Megan K. Cavanagh, who serves on the Forum as the Michigan Supreme Court (MSC) liaison to Tribal courts. “To our Tribes and our law schools, I say, ‘Miigwech,’ or ‘thank you,’ for making this available.”

The forum has shared the handbook with all five law schools in Michigan: Cooley Law School; Michigan State University College of Law; University of Detroit Mercy Law School; University of Michigan Law School; and Wayne State University School of Law.

The handbook encompasses the following topics:

• Histories of the Forum and the handbook;

• Land acknowledgements in legal education;

• Overviews of the 12 federally-recognized Tribes in Michigan:

• Bay Mills Indian Community

• Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians

• Hannahville Potawatomi Indian Community

• Keweenaw Bay Indian Community

• Lac View Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians

• Little River Band of Ottawa Indians

•  Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians

• Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians (Gun Lake Tribe)

• Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi

• Pokagon Band of Potawatomi

• Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan

• Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians;

• Caselaw examples aligning with 1L coursework (civil procedure, constitutional law, contracts, criminal law, property, torts, and writing, research, and advocacy); and,

• Additional educational resources. The handbook was edited by Taylor Elyse Mills, an attorney specializing in Federal Indian Law, Tribal Law, Immigration Law, and Civil Rights Law.

Mills also received a PhD in philosophy from Michigan State University where she specialized in “Engaged Philosophy of Law and Policy.” To the Forum, the Tribes, and her mentors throughout law and graduate school,  Mills said: “Chi miigwech for your support. I am honored to be part of this meaningful project.”

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