Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians

Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, a federally recognized tribe, is headquartered in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, with significant ties to the Great Lakes, Lake Superior, and the Soo Locks. The tribe has a rich history, with ancestral connections to the Ojibwe people, Odawa people, and Potawatomi people, and has interacted with various European explorers, including Étienne Brûlé, Jacques Marquette, and Samuel de Champlain. The tribe's name is derived from the Sault Ste. Marie area, which is situated near the St. Marys River and the Soo Locks, a vital shipping route connecting Lake Superior to the other Great Lakes. The tribe is also affiliated with the Intertribal Council of Michigan and the National Congress of American Indians.

● Introduction

The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians is one of the largest tribes in the United States, with over 44,000 enrolled tribal members, and has a significant presence in Michigan, particularly in the Upper Peninsula. The tribe operates several casinos, including the Kewadin Casino in Sault Ste. Marie, St. Ignace, and Manistique, which provide revenue for the tribe and create jobs for tribal members and non-members alike, similar to the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and the Mohegan Tribe. The tribe also has ties to the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, and participates in regional organizations such as the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission and the United South and Eastern Tribes. The tribe's ancestral lands are also home to the Hiawatha National Forest and the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, which are managed by the United States Forest Service and the National Park Service.

● History

The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians has a long and complex history, with ancestral roots dating back to the Algonquian peoples and interactions with European explorers, including Henry Hudson and René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle. The tribe was affected by the Indian Removal Act and the Dawes Act, which led to the loss of land and cultural heritage, similar to the experiences of the Cherokee Nation and the Navajo Nation. The tribe also played a significant role in the War of 1812, particularly in the Battle of Mackinac Island and the Battle of Lake Erie, alongside other Native American tribes such as the Ottawa people and the Shawnee people. The tribe's history is also tied to the Treaty of Detroit and the Treaty of Washington, which established the boundaries of the tribe's ancestral lands and reserved certain rights for the tribe, such as hunting and fishing, similar to the Treaty of Fort Laramie and the Treaty of Fort Wayne.

● Government

The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians is a federally recognized tribe, with a tribal government that operates under the Indian Reorganization Act and the Tribal Self-Governance Act. The tribe has a tribal council that consists of elected representatives from each of the tribe's districts, including the Sault Ste. Marie district, the St. Ignace district, and the Manistique district. The tribe also has a tribal chairman who serves as the chief executive officer of the tribe, similar to the Navajo Nation Council and the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council. The tribe's government is also affiliated with the National Tribal Chairmen's Association and the United South and Eastern Tribes.

● Economy

The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians has a diverse economy, with significant revenue generated from casino operations, including the Kewadin Casino in Sault Ste. Marie, St. Ignace, and Manistique. The tribe also operates several retail businesses, including gas stations, convenience stores, and smoke shops, which provide jobs and revenue for the tribe, similar to the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and the Mohegan Tribe. The tribe's economy is also supported by fishing and hunting industries, with the tribe holding fishing rights in Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, similar to the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. The tribe is also affiliated with the Native American Rights Fund and the Indian Land Tenure Foundation.

● Culture

The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians has a rich and vibrant culture, with a strong emphasis on traditional practices and cultural preservation. The tribe operates a cultural center in Sault Ste. Marie, which showcases the tribe's history and culture, including traditional regalia, music, and art. The tribe also hosts several cultural events throughout the year, including the Sault Ste. Marie Powwow and the Anishinaabe Cultural Festival, which celebrate the tribe's heritage and provide opportunities for cultural exchange, similar to the Gathering of Nations and the National Museum of the American Indian. The tribe's culture is also influenced by its ancestral ties to the Ojibwe people, Odawa people, and Potawatomi people, and the tribe participates in regional cultural organizations such as the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission and the United South and Eastern Tribes.

● Reservation

The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians has a reservation that spans across several counties in Michigan, including Chippewa County, Mackinac County, and Schoolcraft County. The reservation includes several trust lands that are held in trust by the United States government for the benefit of the tribe, similar to the Navajo Nation and the Cherokee Nation. The tribe also has treaty rights to hunt, fish, and gather on ceded lands in Michigan, including the Hiawatha National Forest and the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, which are managed by the United States Forest Service and the National Park Service. The tribe's reservation is also home to several wildlife refuges, including the Seney National Wildlife Refuge and the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, which are managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Category:Native American tribes in Michigan