The Michigan Indian legal community is mourning the passing of Jim Keedy, who served as the executive director of Michigan Indian Legal Services (MILS) for 30 years before his retirement in 2018. Keedy passed away from complications from COVID pneumonia this past Tuesday. Keedy was 69.
During his long tenure leading Michigan Indian Legal Services, a statewide provider of legal services to income-eligible Native Americans and tribes, the organization assisted six Michigan Indian tribes gain their federal reaffirmation—recognition—and countless Michigan Native American families with Indian Child Welfare Act and Michigan Indian Family Preservation Cases.
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A product of Wyandotte, Mich., Keedy became acquainted with Michigan Indian concerns when he worked on a tribal enrollment/disenrollment case while working at UAW-Ford Legal Services in 1987,
“He contacted MILS attorneys at the time for insights and assistance. Coupled with his love of history, he was hooked and jumped ship and joined the staff at MILS by the end of 1987. Judge Mike Petoskey (Ottawa) was hired as the new executive director of MILS around the same time as when Jim joined the staff. When Mike left that position, Jim was the obvious choice given his prior experience managing a legal aid office in Jackson,” Cameron Fraser (Delaware Tribe of Indians), MILS’ current executive director, said to Native News Online.
The obvious choice lasted for over 30 years. After stepping down as MILS’ executive director, Keedy remained on the staff. During his long history at MILS, Keedy became well respected for his strong dedication to ensuring Native Americans strong legal representation.
Matthew L.M. Fletcher (Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians), the editor of Turtle Talk and professor at Michigan State University’s College…