Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe
of Chippewa Indians of Michigan |
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| Federally recognized | September 7, 1972 | |
| Headquarters | Sault Ste. Marie | |
| Subdivisions | 5 Units | |
| Government | ||
| • Body | Board of Directors | |
| Population
(2010)Enrolled members
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| • Total | 40,000 | |
| Time zone | ET/EDT | |
| Website | www.saulttribe.com | |
The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians (pronounced "Soo Saint Marie") is a Native American tribe. They are officially recognized by the United States government. This tribe lives in what is now Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Their main office is in Sault Ste. Marie. This city is a major center in the area. It is located on the St. Marys River.
Long ago, this land was home to the Oc̣eṭi Ṡakowiƞ people. They were also known as the Dakota, Lakota, or Sioux. The Anishinaabe people, also called Ojibwe or Chippewa, later moved here. They arrived from the east coast. They called this place Bawating, which means "The Gathering Place" in the Ojibwe language. The Chippewa traded with other tribes. Later, they traded with French, British, and American people.
The Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians is the largest recognized tribe in Michigan. They have about 10 times more members than the next largest tribe. This is the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. The Sault Tribe was recognized in 1972. They have five main areas in seven different counties. In 1979, the tribe welcomed members from the Mackinac Band. This almost doubled their number of members. The money they earn from their Kewadin Casinos helps them. They use it to build health centers and support education for their people.
Contents
History of the Sault Tribe
For many hundreds of years, the ancestors of the Sault Tribe lived in the Great Lakes region. They were part of the larger Lake Superior Band of Chippewa Indians. The Ojibwe people, also called Chippewa, moved here over many centuries. They came from the Atlantic Coast. They spoke the Ojibwe language. This language is part of the Algonquian languages family.
In 1820, leaders from the Sault Band and other groups signed treaties with the United States. It is believed that the tribe's ancestors have lived in the Great Lakes area since about 1200 CE. They were part of a large network for trading goods.
The modern Sault Tribe comes from Ojibwe ancestors. These ancestors lived on Sugar Island. This island is in the St. Mary's River. The river is between Michigan and the Canadian province of Ontario.
Federal Recognition and Land
The Sault Tribe became officially recognized by the United States government. This happened on September 7, 1972. The tribe did not have a reservation from an old treaty. So, the government set aside land for them. This land was officially declared a reservation on February 20, 1975. This land is in the city of Sault Ste. Marie. It is also in Sugar Island Township on Sugar Island.
Tribe Members and Community
Since 1972, the number of people in the tribe has grown. Today, there are about 40,000 members. Many Sault Tribe members live away from the reservation. They live in Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. About one-third live across the United States and Canada. Some members even live on other continents. Many members also serve in the military.
In 1979, the Tribal Council made a decision. They allowed members of the Mackinac Band to join the tribe. This made the tribe's numbers much larger. Today, the Sault Tribe includes more than 20 different groups. They also have a strong connection with the Garden River First Nation. This is an Ojibwa group near Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada.
Some Mackinac Band members are still working to become a separate federally recognized tribe. They have formed the Mackinac Bands of Chippewa and Ottawa Indians. This group is recognized by the state of Michigan.
Economic Growth and Casinos
The tribe has a special agreement with the state from 1993. Because of this, they run five casinos. These casinos are called Kewadin Casinos. They are located in Sault Ste. Marie, St. Ignace, Manistique, Christmas, and Hessel. The tribe also owns and manages hotels at some casino locations. These businesses make money for the tribe.
The tribe used to own a large part of Detroit's Greektown Casino. They had to file for bankruptcy in 2008. This was during a time when the economy was very difficult. In 2010, the Michigan Gaming Control Board changed the casino's ownership. The tribe's involvement in the Greektown Casino helped Michigan. It led to three casinos being allowed in Detroit. These casinos created jobs and income for the area.
In 2011, the tribe thought about building more casinos. These would be in Romulus and Lansing. These projects faced legal challenges. Michigan's Attorney General said the Lansing project went against a law. This law was the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. It also went against the tribe's 1993 agreement. In 2015, a judge dismissed the lawsuit. The mayor of Lansing supported the casino project. He said it would bring many good jobs to Lansing. It would also help fund college scholarships for local students.
Community Services and Education
The tribe uses the money from its casinos and hotels to help its people. They build important things like health centers and schools. They run six health centers for their members. These are in Sault Ste. Marie, St. Ignace, Manistique, Munising, Newberry, and Hessel. The tribe also focuses on education. They offer college scholarships to their members.
The tribe helped start the Joseph K. Lumsden Bahweting Anishnaabe Public School Academy. This school is in Sault Ste. Marie. It is run as both a Bureau of Indian Affairs school and a Michigan charter school. It was created to offer a different option for students. Before this school, many Chippewa County students left school early. The school was renamed in 1998. It honors Joseph K. Lumsden, a tribal leader. He helped create the tribe's first housing, education, and health programs.
The Bahweting school is open to all students in the community. It has been very successful. Students learn about the Anishnaabe language, culture, and values. The school won an award from the Governor of Michigan. It was for great student improvement on state tests. The U.S. Department of Education also gave it an award. It was one of only 95 schools honored out of 48,000 similar schools nationwide.
Other tribal projects include the Chi Mukwa (Big Bear) Recreation Center. This center is in Sault Ste. Marie. It has ice rinks for hockey and skating. It also has courts for basketball and volleyball. There are rooms for exercise and fitness areas too.
The Tribe publishes a newspaper every month. It is called Win Awenen Nisitotung. This means "he/she/or one, who well or fully understands" in Ojibwe. People often call the newspaper the WAN.
The tribe also runs two Midjim convenience stores. One is in Sault Ste. Marie and the other in St. Ignace. These stores offer lower prices on gasoline and cigarettes for tribal members.
See also
In Spanish: Chippewa de Sault Sainte Marie para niños
