Fight For Justice Tribal Takeover Collection
Collection Scope and Content Summary
Includes transcripts and audio recordings with fifteen people involved in the Fight for Justice takeover of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Tribal Center. Also includes information on the initial takeover of the center and the aftermath, consequences and opinions of the takeover as well as tribal history, elections and enrollments papers, casino information and an outline of Tribal Council chairman Fred Dakota's trial for receiving casino kickbacks and income tax fraud.
Dates
- 1962-2008
- Majority of material found within 1999 - 2003
Language of Material
English
Conditions Governing Access
Available for use in the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections. The Don Chosa interview located in Series 10: General Records is closed until a release form can be obtained.
Conditions Governing Use
Various copying restrictions apply. Guidelines are available from Michigan Technological University Archives & Copper Country Historical Collections.
Biography
On August 22, 1995, a group of Ojibwa tribal members barricaded itself inside the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Tribal Center in Assinins, Michigan. The stand-off stemmed from a December 1994 election in which members of the tribe were stripped of their voting rights. A grassroots organization, Fight For Justice, was formed which consisted of elders, men, women and children of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community as well as other Native Americans and Non-Native American. The tribal members felt that losing their voting rights was no different than losing their tribal membership. It started out as a peaceful stand but escalated over several weeks with violence including one man being hospitalized, a bomb being set off on US Highway 41, and allegations of police brutality. The standoff lasted until February 4, 1997 when Fred Dakota, tribal chairman, and other tribal officials, retook the center.
Extent
2.27 Cubic Feet (7 manuscript boxes (6 letter and one half letter size))
Abstract
Collection, 1981-2003, of the grassroots organization, Fight For Justice, whose membership included tribal elders, men, women and children of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community in Assinins, Michigan. Includes transcripts and audio recordings with fifteen people involved in the takeover of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Tribal Center. Also includes information on the initial takeover of the center and the aftermath, consequences and opinions of the takeover as well as tribal history, elections and enrollments papers, casino information and an outline of Tribal Council chairman Fred Dakota's trial for receiving casino kickbacks and income tax fraud.
Arrangement
This collection has been arranged into ten series:
1. Oral history Interviews and Transcripts, 1998-2008
2. Tribe History, 1962; 1973-2003
3. Casino History, 1981-1998
4. Tribal Elections, 1982-1996
5. Frederick Dakota’s Trial, 1995-1997
6. Tribal Enrollment, 1965-1997
7. Tribal Center Takeover, 1990-2000
8. Occupation, 1994-1997
9. Takeover Aftermath, 1982-1997
10. General Records, 1982- c.2002
- Title
- Fight For Justice Tribal Takeover Collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Elizabeth Russell, revised by Rachael Bussert; revised by Allison Neely
- Date
- 6/7/2010
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding provided by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
Repository Details
Part of the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections Repository