Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians Restoration Act of 2025

The Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians Restoration Act of 2025 would formally reaffirm the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians of Michigan as a federally recognized Indian Tribe and outline the federal government’s ongoing relationship with the Tribe. The bill states that federal laws and programs applying to Indians and Indian Tribes, including the Indian Reorganization Act, would apply to the Tribe and its members. It also directs the Secretary of the Interior to take certain land into trust or acquire land in specified western Michigan counties (Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Kent, and Ottawa) to benefit the Tribe, and to treat such land as part of the Tribe’s reservation if requested. It requires the Tribe to submit a membership roll within 18 months of enactment and to define membership according to the Tribe’s own governing documents. Overall, the bill aims to restore and clarify the Tribe’s federal status, broaden access to federal services, and provide a mechanism to create or expand trust land within a defined service area in Michigan. The bill’s findings recount the Tribe’s historical treaties, its relationship to other Michigan Odawa/ Ottawa groups, and prior recognition efforts and land-claims processes. By affirming recognition and establishing a land-into-trust framework and service provisions, the bill seeks to acknowledge the Tribe’s long-standing political existence and secure federal support for its members and governance.