Snyder meets with tribal leaders

LANSING, Mich. ‒ Gov. Rick Snyder and leaders from Michigan’s Indian tribes meet during the 2012 State-Tribal Summit.

Sitting left to right are Tom Shomin, Grand Traverse Band of Chippewa and Ottawa Indians; Kurt Perron, Bay Mills Indian Community; Larry Romanelli, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians; Snyder; Aaron Payment, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, and Chris Swartz, Jr., Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.

Standing left to right are Matt Wesaw, Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians; D.K. Sprague, Gun Lake Tribe; Homer Mandoka, Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi; Dennis Kequom, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, and Dexter McNamara, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians

Snyder also signed Executive Directive 2012-2 on state-tribal affairs, affirming his commitment to the Government-to-Government Accord between the state of Michigan and the federally recognized Indian tribes of Michigan executed in 2002, and now spanning three administrations. The annual meeting is held pursuant to the Accord.

“By signing this executive directive, I am signaling my commitment to building a strong relationship between the tribes and the state not only during my tenure as governor, but for many years in the future,” Snyder said. “The state has worked constructively with Michigan’s tribes in many areas including transportation, human services and economic development, and I look forward to improving this relationship as we move toward a brighter future for all of Michigan.”