The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP) is proud to announce the recent swearing in of Justin D. Derhammer as the new Tribal Prosecutor for NHBP, during a special Tribal Council meeting Nov. 1 in Fulton, Michigan.

Derhammer’s legal career began with his work with survivors of domestic violence as a Legal Aide Attorney with the Advocacy Resource Center in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree, in political science, in 2004 from Northern Michigan University and a Juris Doctor degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2009.

Prior to being appointed as Tribal Prosecutor, Derhammer worked as a Staff Attorney for NHBP. While with NHBP, he was part of a team that worked to amend Michigan’s Child Protection Law and he routinely consulted with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to ensure the proper application of laws designed to protect Native American children and families. Derhammer also previously served as Tribal Prosecutor for the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians from 2012 to 2016.

 “We are pleased to welcome back Mr. Derhammer to the NHBP community,” said NHBP Tribal Council Chairperson Jamie Stuck. “We are confident that in his new role as Tribal Prosecutor, he will represent the NHBP nation by seeking justice on behalf of the community, and working with local, county, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to ensure proper legal protections for our tribal members, community members and tribal lands.”

Currently, Derhammer works as an associate at James, Dark & Brill, a law firm that focuses on insurance defense and complex, commercial litigation. He brings nearly a decade of experience working within Native American communities on matters concerning criminal law, criminal jurisdiction, child welfare, the Michigan Indian Family Preservation Act, and the Indian Child Welfare Act.

 “I’m grateful to the Tribal Council for granting me the opportunity to serve the NHBP nation, community and tribal members in the capacity of Tribal Prosecutor,” Derhammer said. “I’m honored to again be a part of this community. As Prosecutor, I will work to ensure that the laws of the NHBP nation are enforced, as well as to protect its inherent status as a sovereign nation.”

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About The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi
NHBP, a federally recognized Tribal government with more than 1,500 enrolled Tribal Members, gained federal recognition December 19, 1995. The Tribe’s main offices are located at the Pine Creek Indian Reservation near Athens, Michigan, and in Grand Rapids, Michigan. NHBP provides benefits, programs and services to Tribal Members through various Tribal government departments, as well as a Tribal Police Department, Tribal Court and Gaming Commission.
NHBP’s economic development entities include FireKeepers Casino Hotel (FKCH), a Vegas-style casino, and Waséyabek Development Company, LLC (WDC), which focuses on the pursuit of non-gaming, economic diversification opportunities.
Under the Tribal-State Gaming Compact, NHBP distributes a percentage of its annual slot machine revenue from FKCH to both the State of Michigan and to the Local Revenue Sharing Board (LRSB). The Native American Heritage Fund, established in 2016, serves to provide resources to improve curricula and educational resources related to Michigan Indian history, as well as to fund initiatives that promote mutual respect and cooperation between local communities and Michigan’s federally recognized Tribes.