MI HR0246

Urges the U.S. Department of the Interior to approve Petition #146 filed by the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians (GRBOI) for federal acknowledgment.

Establishes GRBOI as the political successor-in-interest to the Grand River Ottawa people, citing the 1836 Treaty of Washington and 1855 Treaty of Detroit that created a sovereign-to-sovereign relationship with the United States.

Notes that Michigan recognized GRBOI as a historic Indian tribe in 1996 and that Congress included provisions in the 1997 Michigan Indian Land Claims Settlement Act (P.L. 105-143) to distribute settlement funds to GRBOI in anticipation of federal recognition.

References legal precedent from other Michigan treaty tribes, including a 1968 Indian Claims Commission award, supporting the validity of successor-in-interest claims.

Directs that copies of the resolution be transmitted to the Governor and U.S. Secretary of the Interior.