A Tribal History

The Tribe

On Sept. 21, 1994, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians (LTBB) was federally reaffirmed with the signing of Public Law 103-324. The Tribe is governed by a nine member Tribal Council who serve staggered terms. The Tribe has over 4,000 members with a large number living within Charlevoix and Emmet Counties. The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians presently employs over 100 full and part-time employees. The historically delineated reservation area, located in the north-western part of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, encompasses approximately 336 square miles of land within the two counties. The largest communities within the reservation boundaries are Petoskey, Harbor Springs, and Charlevoix.

LTBB Mission Statement

 

Being Odawa is all about freedom.  The Freedom to be a part of a people who, with integrity and pride, still have and speak our own language.  The freedom to share in common with all other Odawak the customs, culture, and spirituality of our ancestors.  The freedom we have today we will bring to the future through unity, education, justice, communication, and planning.  We will reach out to the next seven generations by holding to cultural values of Wisdom, Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty, Humility and Truth.  We will utilize our Tribal assets to provide the necessary tools to become successful, hard-working community members who proudly represent our culture.  With these values we will move the Tribe forward.

Anishinaabemowin Interpretation of LTBB Mission Statement

 

Debendiziwin aawan maanda Odawa aawiyiing.  Geyaabi gdaa’aanaa miinwaa gdanwewmi Anishinaabemowin, maanda egishkaago’iing debendiziwin ebidgwasiing mnaadendiziwin miinwaa wiimnaadendiziyiing.  Gdabendaanaa debendiziwin kina gwaya Odawak naasaap eyaamjik, maanda naakinigewinan, maadiziwin miinwaa mnidoowaadiziwin gaanaaniigaaniijik debendamowaad. Maanda debendiziwin eyaamiing nangwa, kanamaajiidonaa niigaan ezhibezhigoyiing, kinoomaadwin, dbaakinigewin, giigidowin miinwaa naakinigewin.  Kazhiibiignaketaanaa maanda niizhwaachiing bimaadiziwin waabii’aamigak mjignamiing ninda mnomaadiziwinan echipiitendaakin: nbwaakaawin, zaagidwin, mnaadendamowin, aakde’ewin, gwekwaadiziwin, dbaadendiziwin miinwaa debwewin.  Kanakaazinaa ninda gdabendaaswinaanin, jimiigwe’iing nakaazwinan jimnomewzi’iing, enitaanokiijik maampii Anishinaabek enaapshkaamwaad maanda gbimaadziwinaa.  Ninda eyaamiing echipiitendaakin, mii go kina gwaya maampii enjibaad jiniigaanibizad.

Spoken Mission Statement Audio

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Crooked Tree Wellness Clinic

(231) 242-1760

Website: https://ctwc.health

 

Crooked Tree Wellness Clinic is open and accepting patients!  Anyone who has Medicaid as primary insurance is eligible to be seen at CTWC! 

 

Appointments available for Native and non-Native people.

 

Tribal Citizens, if you have family members or friends who are on Medicaid and in need of medical services, please tell them about Crooked Tree Wellness Center.

 

Crooked Tree Wellness Center has appointments available  Monday – Thursday, 7:20 am – 4:30 pm.

Phone number is:  231-242-1760.

Upcoming Meetings & Events

Nov
21
Thu
Traditional Healer Services – Joseph Syrette
Nov 21 all-day
Tribal Council Meeting
Nov 21 @ 9:00 AM

Agenda – 112124 TC MTG AGENDA

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87963201130?pwd=hYujanAxsv1tuiKXFejl9w9oBp66tj.1

Meeting ID: 879 6320 1130
Passcode: 038570

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Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kwEyl2W15

Evening of Anishinaabe Games
Nov 21 @ 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Talking Circle
Nov 21 @ 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Nov
22
Fri
SPRING’s Ghost Supper
Nov 22 @ 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Nov
23
Sat
Election Board Meeting
Nov 23 @ 9:00 AM

Meetings are open to LTBB Tribal Citizens,
and are held at the Election Board Office,
1483 U.S. 31 North, Unit D of Lower Level, Petoskey, Michigan

Important Information

Latest News

11/14/2024
Living Wage Memo Effective 01/01/2025

Per Tribal Resolution #102619-05 Promotion of a Living Wage, the calculations for the Living Wage are as follows:
Living Wage Memo effective 010125

11/12/2024
Vacancy for Appellate Justice – 6 Year Term

Please contact the Tribal Chairperson’s Office for more details or questions.

 

10/28/2024
Per capita Disbursement
Update:

The 2024 Per Capita checks in the amount of $500.00 are being mailed today to all citizens who have a current verified address on file with Enrollment from the Harbor Springs Post Office.  If citizen’s had signed up for EFT by October 31, the deposits uploaded to bank accounts today.  If you have questions please contact the Enrollment Department at 231-242-1522, and they will communicate with Accounting as necessary.


LTBB approved per capita disbursement will be $500 for 2024.
 
The LTBB Accounting Department will mail out checks and process direct deposits on or before November 15, 2024.
 
If you have questions regarding your status, please contact the
LTBB Enrollment Department at (231) 242-1520/1521/1522.
 
Please note EFT forms must received by October 31 for direct deposit of the 2024 per capita. Forms received later than October 31st will be processed, but will likely result in a paper check for the original issuance of 2024 per capita checks.

11/05/2024
Native American Heritage Month

 

In honor of Native American Heritage Month, The Niigaandiwin Education Department is thrilled to roll out a new series on the book Gah-Baeh-Jhagwah-Buk (The Way It Happened) by James Mcclurken.

This series invites us all to deepen our understanding of our culture and history together, and we look forward to meaningful discussions and shared insights.

To celebrate, we’re also offering a fun incentive: wear a ribbon skirt/shirt and/or moccasins during the series, and you’ll be eligible to win some great prizes! This is a wonderful way to showcase and honor our traditions.

10/10/2024
Spring’s Annual Ghost Supper

Aanii/boozhoo indinawemaaganak (hello all of my relatives),

 

We cordially invite you to join us for the LTBB SPRING Program’s Annual Ghost Supper, a heartfelt tradition honoring our loved ones who have walked on. This gathering offers a sacred space to share stories, remember, and celebrate the lives of those we cherish.

 

When: November 22nd, 2024, from 3 pm to 7 pm.

Where: LTBB Government Commons Area

 

To ensure we pay tribute to your loved ones with respect, please provide the following information:

  • Loved One’s Name
  • Any Military Service
  • Year of Birth
  • Year of Passing
  • Any special memories or stories you’d like to share (can be left anonymous, if requested)

Feel free to share as many photos and stories as you wish. Your contributions will enrich our collective experience. Please submit your contributions by November 8th at 12 pm.

 

The PDF has a clickable link, or you can email us at springgrant@ltbbodawa-nsn.gov.

 

We look forward to your participation and the opportunity to come together as a community. ❤

10/09/2024
Tribal Prosecutor Vacancy

This posting is to invite proposals from persons interested in serving as Tribal Prosecutor

LTBB Prosecutor Position

12/21/2023

The Archie Kiogima Jr. ba Migizi (Eagle) Aviary and Rehabilitation Center Press Release

 

MICHIGAN ODAWA NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBE AND WINGS OF WONDER PARTNER ON EAGLE AVIARY AND RAPTOR CENTER

 

Little Traverse Bay Bands and Celebrated Michigan Raptor Rehabilitator Collaborate on First Tribal Eagle Aviary and Raptor Center East of the Mississippi River

The Archie Kiogima Jr. ba Migizi (Eagle) Aviary and Rehabilitation Center will enable tribe to save federally protected eagles and educate public on their importance to Native American culture

 

MICHIGAN (December 20, 2023) — Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians (LTBB) is proud to announce the award of a $250,000 matching grant from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community as a part of its continued campaign to fund and build the Archie Kiogima Jr. ba Migizi Aviary and Rehabilitation Center. LTBB is seeking like-minded Tribes, groups and individuals in the care and protection of injured Eagles and other raptors through the construction of top-notch facility on Tribal land nestled within a Northern Michigan.

 

LTBB has had a long-term relationship with one of the country’s most celebrated raptor rehabilitators, Rebecca Lessard founder and operator of Wings of Wonder (WOW) located in Empire, Michigan. During that time, the LTBB Natural Resource Department rescued and transported dozens of eagles and other injured birds of prey to WOW for treatment. Many of these raptors were able to return to tribal lands for release back into the wild. However, after rehabilitating hundreds of eagles and other raptors for over 30 years Rebecca Lessard is now retired. Please help the LTBB Natural Resource Department (NRD) cement  Wings of Wonder (WOW) and former longtime WOW icon Rebecca Lessard’s legacy through donation funds necessary for the construction of the Archie Kiogima ba Migizi Aviary and Rehabilitation Center. Total project costs are estimated at $2.3 million. The funding campaign is on the way to that funding goal however a significant amount of funding is needed yet. A minimum of $250,000 in additional donations are needed in order to fully realize the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community grant as such LTBB has recently created an informational webpage (https://ltbbodawa-nsn.gov/migizi-aviary/) on the project with online donation capabilities.

 

The Bald Eagle, “Migizi” is a highly respected and significant cultural species to many Native American Tribes, including the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. Preserving this highly revered and significant cultural species for the next seven generations is a high priority for the LTBB.

03/19/2024
Housing Developments Presentation

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  • All new tribal citizens that have applied for enrollment must complete the address verification form that was included in your welcome packet.  This form must be returned to the enrollment office.

    If you have any questions, Please feel free to call us at (231) 242-1522

    Sincerely,

    Pauline Boulton

    Enrollment Officer

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  • With our time of honoring our relations who have gone on to the Spirit World we also are reminded of what is to come. Mshkawji Giizis/ Freezing Moon-Migrating Moon. The eleventh moon of Creation is the Freezing Moon, a time when the Star Nation is closest to us. As every creature/being prepares for the coming fasting's we are reminded to prepare ourselves for our spiritual path by learning

    the sacred teachings and songs that will sustain us. Talk to them, they are listening. Listen to them, they are speaking.

    (Read More)...

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  • October Calendar, Binaakwe Giizis/ Falling leaves Moon. This is the time we finish the harvest and prepare for the sparse months to come. The falling leaves also remind us there is an end for every season but also reminds us that for every ending there is also a new beginning.

    Chi-Miigwetch, have a great day, week, month, year.

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  • Aanii. As of September, 2024, residential households in the U.S. are eligible once again for 4 free at-home tests, delivered to you by the USPS. Please use the link provided to order yours today.

    https://special.usps.com/testkits

    (Read More)...

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