Born: 23 July 1921 (Petoskey, Michigan)
Died: 21 December 1981
Biography:
Waunetta McClellan Dominic (23 July 1921 21 December 1981) was an Odawa rights activist who spent her career advocating for the United States government to adhere to its treaty obligations to Native Americans. She was one of the founders of the Northern Michigan Ottawa Association and her influence was widely recognized, especially after winning a 1971 claim against the government for compensation under 19th-century treaties. She was also a proponent of Native American fishing rights being protected. In 1979, she was named by The Detroit News as Michiganian of the Year and in 1996, she was posthumously inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame.
Early life:
Waunetta G. McClellan was born on 23 July 1921 in Petoskey, Michigan to Elizabeth (née Taylor) and Levi P. McClellan. Her great-grandfather was a leader of the Grand River Band of Ottawas. She initially attended school in Petoskey and completed her studies at the Haskell Indian Institute in Lawrence, Kansas.
Marrying Robert Dominic in 1940, the couple made their home in Detroit and Flint, before returning to Petoskey in 1944.
Career:
The Indian termination policy established by the federal government in the 1940s created the Indian Claims Commission in 1946, as a means of compensating tribes for previous land takings, undervaluations of compensation, and abridgement of rights.
The problem for the Odawa was that the 1855 Treaty of Detroit had been interpreted as severing the tribal governments of each of the bands. To be eligible for filing a claim, they first had to confirm that the bands had continued to be distinct, self-governing nations. In 1946, the Dominics called for a meeting of local tribes at the local Petoskey grocery store. Only 20 members showed up, making them realize the need to organize.
Traveling throughout the state to document descendants of Odawa listed on the Durant Roll (19071910), they identified 3,000 American Indians who might be eligible to pursue claims against the U. S. government.
In 1948, Dominic, her father, and her husband founded the Northern Michigan Ottawa Association (NMOA), with Robert serving as president of the organization and Waunetta serving as secretary. The organization contained eleven bands of northern Odawa who had been signatories to the 1836 Treaty of Washington and the subsequently signed 1855 Treaty of Detroit. The following year, they filed a claim under the Claims Commission.
Because most of the tribes their organization represented were not reservation tribes, Dominic was concerned about their lack of access to health care. She fought for the right for NMOA members to be treated at the Upper Peninsula’s Kinchloe Indian Clinic. Recognizing how few Michigan Native Americans had received higher education, she discovered federal programs that could be utilized and worked to promote these opportunities.
Dominic also advocated for maintaining Native American fishing rights. She was instrumental in preserving the Odawa tribe’s rights on the Little Traverse Bay. She was a vocal opponent of efforts to restrict Native American fishing rights and worked tirelessly to protect their cultural heritage and traditional practices.
Dominic’s influence and dedication to her cause were widely recognized. In 1971, her persistence paid off when the Indian Claims Commission awarded NMOA and its member bands a settlement of $53 million, representing compensation for the government’s failure to honor treaties from the 1800s. This victory marked a significant achievement in Native American rights activism.
Throughout her career, Dominic actively participated in conferences and meetings, sharing her knowledge and experiences with other Native American rights activists. She also served as a mentor and role model for young Native Americans, inspiring them to fight for their rights and preserve their cultural heritage.
Awards:
– 1971: Settlement of $53 million awarded by the Indian Claims Commission to the Northern Michigan Ottawa Association and its member bands.
– 1979: Named Michiganian of the Year by The Detroit News.
– 1996: Posthumously inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame.