NOTE: You can download the MDCR application and Memorandum regarding this decision here.

The Michigan Department on Civil Rights (MDCR) has taken the initiative to include PL174 the Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver (MITW) under prop 2 amendments making the MITW a race based issue instead of a treaty issue. The short and skinny of it is that the tuition waiver is based upon the Comstock agreement of 1934 whereas the State of Michigan accepted the federal government's treaty responsibilities to "educate all Indians" in exchange for the land at the Mt.Pleasant boarding school. Between 1934 and 1976 when Governor Mike Milliken signed PL174 there was virtually no education right for Indians in Michigan. Since then Governor Engler has line item vetoed the tuition waiver from the state's budget but being a treaty right the Colleges and Universities understood that they were required to honor this agreement and have been "eating" the waiver from their bottom line. This move by the State of Michigan, in my estimation, is an attempt to get the state budget under control.

We here at GRBOI.com and Negake Descendant's Incorporated are working towards rectifying this situation on behalf of our fellow citizens and would like your input. If you are a student who is affected by this action and are a citizen of the GRBOI please contact us and let us know your situation so we can include you in our correspondences with the MDCR. scott@grboi.com scott@grboi.com