MARQUETTE, MI – (Great Lakes Radio News) – Dr. Martin Reinhardt, Treaty Rights and Tribal Law specialist joined The SUNNY Morning Show today to offer some perspective on questions raised by the recent plans by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community to open a gas station and convenience store in Marquette Township.
Reinhardt, who is a faculty member at Northern Michigan University’s Center For Native American Studies, focused on treaty rights and explained how the land in question is able to be placed into a trust by the tribe and how the KBIC will be able to operate without having to pay certain taxes and fees.
He also discussed the historical precedents for similar business ventures by other tribal governments and how such efforts fit into concepts such as “tribal capitalism”.
Reinhardt also added that perceived advantages such as not paying certain taxes are used by tribes because they have very little resource capital or land capital. He says although controversial, tribes being able to eschew taxation gives them a competitive leg to stand on against large non-native corporate entities.
To listen to the interview with Dr. Martin Reinhardt, please click on the audio link below:
For more about the NMU Center For Native American Studies, please click “HERE”
