During the last twenty-four years the Tribe went from having nothing to becoming a modern tribal government that can now provide for the needs of its people. The Tribe’s goal of reaching self-sufficiency through its pursuit of economic development under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act would take over a decade. The Tribe achieved federal re-acknowledgment in 1999 after many years of working through the federal acknowledgment process. I give recognition to our tribal leaders who came before me, as I merely finished what they started when the Bradley Indian Mission was established in the 1830s.” “I thank my family and the Tribe for supporting me, and God for allowing me to serve at a time when our dreams came to reality. “It has been an honor and privilege to serve my community as chairman for the last twenty-four years,” said D.K. He is distinguished as one the longest serving tribal chairman, in consecutive terms, throughout Indian Country in the Unites States. Sprague served as chairman since his initial election by the Bradley Settlement Elder’s Council in 1992. (Bradley, Mich.) – Today, the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians (Gun Lake Tribe) (Tribe) announced the retirement of David K. Sprague Led Tribe from Pre-Recognition to Successful Modern Tribal Government Sprague Retires after Twenty-Four Years as Chairman of the Gun Lake Tribe
