Indian Law

Almost 30 years ago Jim Olson defended Art Duhamel in an criminal prosecution alleging illegal fishing under state law that eventually led to the restoration of his Indian Tribe's federal acknowledgment and the federal court's subsequent 1979 declaration that the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians retains Great Lakes fishing rights under the Treaty of Washington executed March 28, 1836. In 1980 Bill Rastetter began representing the Grand Traverse Band in this landmark federal court litigation involving rights reserved under the 1836 Treaty by the signatory Indian Tribes; and in the past two decades he has successfully represented the Grand Traverse Band in disputes involving federal, state and local governments (see cases listed with his profile).

Now that the Grand Traverse Band has staff attorneys handling much of that Tribe's legal matters, Bill is available to represent other Indian Tribes in situations that don't conflict with the interests of the Grand Traverse Band. And, if other Tribes face major litigation, this firm can augment its litigation team by the addition of Ellen Kohler, who has both a background in Indian law and litigation experience as a staff attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice. [Ellen Kohler: J.D., University of Colorado School of Law (1993); Masters of Science, University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment (1990); B.A., Hamilton College (1985).]