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Indian Tribal Courts Located in Michigan 
In May 1996, the Michigan Supreme Court adopted Michigan Court Rule 2.615, which was prompted by proposals from the Indian Tribal Court/State Trial Court Forum and the State Bar of Michigan. MCR 2.615 provides for the enforcement of Indian tribal court judgments. Basically, the rule states that a tribal court judgment is recognized as long as the tribe or tribal court has enacted a reciprocal ordinance, court rule, or other binding measure that obligates the tribal court to enforce state court judgments, and that ordinance, court rule, or other measure has been transmitted to the State Court Administrative Office.
Listed below are the 12 federally recognized Tribes in Michigan and their contact information. Links are provided to the Tribes' ordinances, court rules, or other measures implementing the reciprocal provision of MCR 2.615. The text of MCR 2.615 follows, as well as other related links.
1. Bay Mills Indian Community
12140 West Lakeshore Drive
Brimley, MI 49715
906-248-3241
Website: http://www.baymills.org/tribalcourt
Tribal Code: http://www.baymills.org/tribalcourt (click "Tribal Code")
2. Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians
2605 N.W. Bayshore Drive
Suttons Bay, MI 49682
231-534-3538
Website: http://www.gtb.nsn.us/
Tribal Code: http://www.narf.org/nill/Codes/gtcode/index.htm
3. Hannahville Indian Community
N14911 Hannahville Road
Wilson, MI 49896
906-466-2932
Website: http://www.hannahville.net/index.html
Tribal Code
4. Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians
Pine Creek Reservation
2221 1 1/2 Mile Road
Fulton, MI 49052
269-729-5151
Website: http://www.nhbpi.com
Tribal Code
5. Keweenaw Bay Indian Community
107 Beartown Road
Baraga, MI 49908
906-353-6623
Website: http://www.kbic-nsn.gov
Tribal Code
6. Lac Vieux Desert Band of Chippewa Indians
P.O. Box 446
Choate Road
Watersmeet, MI 49969
906-358-4577
Website: http://www.lvdtribal.com
Tribal Code
7. Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
3031 Domres Road
Manistee, MI 49660
231-398-3406
Website: http://www.lrboi.com/council
Tribal Code: http://www.lrboi.com/council/ordinances.html
8. Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians
7500 Odawa Circle
Harbor Springs, MI 49740
231-242-1400
Website: http://www.ltbdodawa-nsn.gov
Tribal Code: http://www.ltbbodawa-nsn.gov/ltbb_V_2/TribalCode/Tribal%20Code.pdf
9. Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians
P.O. Box 355
58620 Sink Road
Dowagiac, MI 49047
269-783-0505
Website: http://www.pokagon.com/tribalcourt.htm
Tribal Code: http://www.pokagon.com/codes/tribalcourtcode.pdf
10. Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe
Public Safety Building
6954 E. Broadway Road
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858
989-775-4800
Website: http://www.sagchip.org
Tribal Code: http://www.sagchip.org/tribalcourt/code.htm
11. Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
523 Ashmun Street
P.O. Box 343
Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783
906-635-6050
Website: http://www.saulttribe.com
Tribal Code: http:/www.narf.org/nill/Codes/saultcode/ssmcode86judg.htm
12. Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Potawatomi Indians (Gun Lake Tribe)
P.O. Box 218
1743 142nd Avenue
Dorr, MI 48323
Website: http://www.mbpi.org
No judicial department at this time.
>>See Michigan Indian Directory, 2005-2006
>>See the State of Michigan Tribal Government Page
MCR 2.615 Enforcement of Tribal Judgments
(A) The judgments decrees, orders, warrants, subpoenas, records, and other judicial acts of a tribal court of a federally recognized Indian tribe are recognized, and have the same effect and are subject to the same procedures, defenses, and proceedings as judgments, decrees, orders, warrants, subpoenas, records, and other judicial acts of any court of record in this state, subject to the provisions of this rule.
(B) The recognition described in subrule (A) applies only if the tribe or tribal court
(1) enacts an ordinance, court rule, or other binding measure that obligates the tribal court to enforce the judgments, decrees, orders, warrants, subpoenas, records, and judicial acts of the courts of this state, and
(2) transmits the ordinance, court rule or other measure to the State Court Administrative Office. The State Court Administrative Office shall make available to state courts the material received pursuant to paragraph (B)(1).
(C) A judgment, decree, order, warrant, subpoena, record, or other judicial act of a tribal court of a federally recognized Indian tribe that has taken the actions described in subrule (B) is presumed to be valid. To overcome that presumption, an objecting party must demonstrate that
(1) the tribal court lacked personal or subject-matter jurisdiction, or
(2) the judgment, decree, order, warrant, subpoena, record, or other judicial act of the tribal court
(a) was obtained by fraud, duress, or coercion,
(b) was obtained without fair notice or a fair hearing,
(c) is repugnant to the public policy of the State of Michigan, or
(d) is not final under the laws and procedures of the trilal court.
(D) This rule does not apply to judgments or orders that federal law requires be given full faith and credit.
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