The Thečhíȟila Collective was ecstatic when it finally secured land from the Detroit Land Bank Authority for a Native center, after an uphill battle to purchase long-vacant property last year.
But in July, the land bank threatened to take the property back, alleging the collective failed to provide a required update in a third “final demand” letter addressed to the wrong mailing and email addresses. The collective was required to provide evidence of working on its plan for the property, including removing trash and constructing a medicinal garden and pow-wow grounds. The issue was resolved only after the Indigenous collective reached out to the land bank to purchase more land next to its property.
On the vacant stretch of land in Detroit on Tillman tucked between I-94 and I-96 that had sat empty in the in the land bank’s hands for more than a decade, the Thečhíȟila Collective — made up of 30 land stewards — planted trees, a sacred garden with sage, tobacco and sweetgrass and a medicine garden. The purchase came after the land bank initially raised the price by 2,000% once the collective inquired about buying it, causing a back-and-forth before the land bank ultimately sold the group the land at a 50% discount. Following BridgeDetroit’s reporting, a land bank-wide 50% discount was created for “federally recognized American Indian Tribe or Alaska Native Entity” members on auction properties.
The collective has hosted liberation events with Palestinian and Mexican groups, children have played baaga’adowewin — the game from which French settlers created lacrosse — and the group plans to purchase more property to create sustainable housing.
Jaike Spotted Wolf, founder of the collective, said she couldn’t believe the land bank was alleging they were in default. She said she sent progress reports and pictures as required, and had never received any prior letters to the alleged final one which was addressed to the wrong physical and mailing address.
“It never ceases with the land bank,” said Spotted Wolf.
The land bank was established in 2008 to return Detroit’s vacant land to productive use, and has sold approximately half of the vacant land it started with to Detroiters for homes, gardens, and other community projects, leaving currently a little more than 59,000 vacant properties in its inventory.
But Detroiters across the city have encountered a range of issues with the city’s largest property owner, from the authority wrongly alleging homeowners were trespassing to trying to take back homes for slow repairs while giving developers longer to renovate, and undisclosed issues with the properties costing homebuyers more than expected. Many have expressed frustration about not being able to buy property in the inventory – land set aside for special projects and developers.
Initially, land bank spokesperson Nicole Simmons said the collective’s address was wrong because the compliance team used the information on file that was provided to contact the group about issues with the properties. The issue was resolved when the collective reached out, Simmons said.
“The Collective subsequently connected with the DLBA, updated its contact information, and worked with our team to clarify next steps. Based on those communications, the issues related to the potential default have been resolved,” Simmons said by email.
However, a purchasing agreement and an email thread from last year both show the correct address. In a follow up comment, Simmons said she would look into how the addresses got changed.
The default allegations came about while the collective was seeking to buy more land bank property. The collective has secured a $50,000 grant from Flagstar to build five units of sustainable, off-grid housing “true to Anishinaabe tradition and culture,” said Spotted Wolf. A representative from Flagstar declined to provide comment on details. The collective still has $10,000 leftover from a larger EarthRising grant to buy the first properties, as well.
Through BridgeDetroit’s reporting, Spotted Wolf learned the land bank claimed the Tribal Member discount was never used in Thečhíȟila Collective’s purchase. She shared emails and texts showing she submitted proof of tribal membership and that program manager Ben Newman confirmed a 50% discount.
Land bank spokesperson Simmons said the Tribal Member discount was not used but confirmed the board approved a separate 50% discount citing “unique circumstances” based on the group’s plans, commitment to rehabilitate the property, and proof of funds. Spotted Wolf said that distinction was never communicated to her.
The Tribal Member discount only applies to structures sold in the auction — not vacant land – Simmons said.
Spotted Wolf said the discount should apply to vacant land as well.
“We’re crying for space in a space that used to be all Native,” she said. “This used to be Anishinaabe land, Anishinaabe territory and now you may not be able to tell me the name of a Anishinaabe neighbor.”
