Despite the name, this band of Potawatomi has no direct connection with the unrelated Huron people. Rather, both "Nottawaseppi" and "Huron" refer to the band's historical location along the Clinton River in southeastern Michigan. This river was formerly known as the Nottawasippee River or the Huron River of St. Clair. The word Nottawasippee is an Ojibweethnic slur meaning "like rattlesnakes", referring to the Huron people, who inhabited the area prior to the arrival of the Potawatomi, Odawa and Ojibwe.
History
In the 19th century, especially, the Potawatomi people and closely related tribes of Odawa and Ojibwe peoples of the Anishinaabe were affiliated as the Council of Three Fires. All these peoples were highly decentralized and bands operated independently. During the 17th and 18th centuries, numerous bands moved into what is now Michigan. The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi signed a treaty with the United States to cede much of its land in 1820, and was assigned a smaller portion of land as its reservation. It is located at in Athens Township in southwestern Calhoun County. In the 20th century, the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act was intended to encourage tribes to set up self-government. The nine historic bands of Odawa, Ojibwe and Potawatomi in Michigan were not covered by this act and later had to achieve federal recognition or reaffirmation as tribes independently, a process that continues. The band organized to regain self-government, gaining reaffirmation of its status as a tribe in 1995 by Congressional legislation. Their homeland headquarters are in Wakeshma Township, near Athens, in the southwestern region of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. This is about 17 miles southwest of Battle Creek. Athens Township is within the major city's metropolitan area. The Band also maintains satellite offices in Grand Rapids, about 74 miles north of Fulton/Athens. The service area of the tribe includes the reservation as well as members living in Kalamazoo, Calhoun, Ottawa, Kent and Allegan counties.
Government
The NHBP is governed by a written constitution and an elected 5-member tribal council. This includes the following executive officers: Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and Sergeant-at-Arms.
Tribal Court
The NHBP Tribal Court was established in 2006. It is run by a Tribal Chief Justice.
Tribal departments
The NHBP administration is divided into departments for Operations, Finance, Enrollment, Education, Housing, Health, and Language.
Economy
The NHBP own FireKeepers Casino, a casino with an attached 2,078-space parking garage on located in Battle Creek, Michigan. This operation is governed by a compact with the state of Michigan.
Tribal timeline of events
1970 – The Tribe is incorporated in the state of Michigan. Government by a written constitution and an elected Tribal Council is established.
2007 – A Community Center and Health Center are constructed. A parcel of property in Emmett Township is placed into Federal trust on behalf of the Tribe. The Tribe places of the Q Drive property into the USDA wetland reserve program.
2008 – Construction begins on FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek, Michigan.
2009 – FireKeepers Casino opens on August 5, 2009.
2010 – Nottawaseppi Huron Band chairwoman Laura Spurr, who had served in that position since 2003 and helped to develop the FireKeepers Casino, dies on February 19, 2010.
