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.
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.
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.
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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.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2025
Statement on Michigan Supreme Court Justice Michael Cavanagh Walking on
Very few people have positively impacted Native American communities and families more than Justice Cavanagh. “I am saddened by the news that former Supreme Court Justice Michael Cavanagh has walked on. He represented the Michigan Supreme Court with integrity, respect, and an open heart,” said Tribal Chairperson Regina Gasco.
The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians appreciates Justice Cavanagh’s patience and fairness in leading mediation efforts during negotiations of the successor Great Lakes Consent Decree. Through his work on the bench and his establishment of the Tribal State Federal Judicial Forum, he honored tribal sovereignty, enabled Michigan Tribes to make their communities safer, and helped us to bring our children home.
A copy of the detailed 2026 Tribal Government Budgets can be found within the Citizen’s Portal under Appropriations and Finance Committee.
On January 27, 2025, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued Memorandum M-25-13, Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs. The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians learned of the federal funding freeze imposed by the OMB through the Memorandum. On January 29, 2025, the OMB rescinded the memorandum. During this time, we have gathered the following information to share with you.
The Executive Branch continues developing plans to mitigate the effects of a freeze while preserving tribal services. In the event of a future freeze, the LTBB expects to maintain services to Tribal citizens. The LTBB has endured nonpayment of funds secured by treaty, congressional failure to appropriate funds, and federal government shutdowns, so it is no stranger to funding failures. The Tribe is positioned to withstand the short-term financial effects of the freeze. Barring an allocation after this statement, the LTBB has an unrestricted fund balance of $10,000,000 that can carry the federal program costs through mid-2025.
Most core services for Tribal citizens such as Michele Chingwa, Elder’s Food and Utilities, Medicare Reimbursements Costs, Burial assistance, and Per Capita are not funded by federal grants. However, services such as Elder’s Luncheon, snow plowing, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act assistance, and Significant Prevention Resulting in New Generations activities are funded through federal grants. The LTBB is current in its drawdowns of federal funds and works diligently to stay current.
Initially, we received notification from federal funding agencies that drawdowns (actual repayment of grant expenditures incurred from the federal government) were temporarily suspended. On January 28, a federal court ordered a stay on the portion of the memo that paused disbursements under open awards,” but left the intact the freeze of new awards. The next day OMB rescinded the memo, effectively ending the freeze. Should similar Executive action transpire in the future, the LTBB will be prepared to act on a plan to conserve funds, remain operational, and maximize services.
We recognize that federal funding is likely to remain subject to political whims. Accordingly, LTBB will work both independently with the Tribe’s lobbyist and in conjunction with the United Tribes of Michigan, Midwestern Alliance of Sovereign Tribes, National Congress of American Indians to prepare for such contingencies and advocate for the Tribe’s interests.
With the recent US measles outbreaks and first reported case in the state of Michigan, the Little Traverse Bay Band Health Clinic is highly recommending vaccination against this disease. 
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. One person can infect 90% of non-immunized people they come in contact with, causing symptoms of high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, diarrhea, and rash. Major complications include pneumonia, brain swelling, and death.
For more information regarding measles, check out the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services at Measles Updates or the National Indian Health Board’s post at https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1WacAGrLVH/. Ask your provider if you or your child should receive the vaccine. Those born before 1957 are considered immune and generally do not need to receive the vaccine.
With spring break travel in and out of our area, we also recommend increased vigilance in hand washing and mask wearing to prevent the spread of infection. Measles can live in airspaces up to two hours after an infected person leaves it.
We offer nurse visits for immunizations, so call today!
This guide is here to help you. Although it is not a substitute for emergency support or mental health support; it is here to serve as a resource guide for Suicide Prevention.
Any questions please contact Tina Bishaw, Crisis Counselor, at 231-242-1557
Per Tribal Resolution #102619-05 Promotion of a Living Wage, the calculations for the Living Wage are as follows:
Living Wage Memo effective 010125
Please contact the Tribal Chairperson’s Office for more details or questions.
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.
Wear Red Day, Skirts, shirts, awareness ribbons etc.
Please see the attached document as a reminder that we will be honoring our Missing And Murdered Indigenous Relatives next Monday May 5, 2025.
It's time to schedule your child's sport physical!
The LTBB Health Clinic has dates designated for sport physicals on July 1st, July 29th, August 12th, and August 26th.
Please contact the clinic at (231) 242-1700 for information regarding what you need for this appointment and to schedule your appointment time.
Batter up!
The fourth moon of Creation is Sucker Moon, when sucker goes to the Spirit World in order to receive cleansing techniques for this world. When it returns to this realm, it purifies a path for the Spirits and cleanses all our water beings. Another teaching is that the sucker gave up his life for the Anishinaabe in the month of February. The previous month, January, is the hardest time of year to get food because of the scarceness of game. In February it is easier to net these fish and it is believed that the sucker is giving his life for the Anishinaabe.
RICKY COMPO
TAMARA KIOGIMA
LEROY SHOMIN
DOUG EMERY
WILLIAM ORTIZ
MARCI REYES
KENNETH DEWEY
AARON OTTO
SHARON SIERZPUTOWSKI
SIERRA BODA (WITHDREW 5-14-21)
BERNADECE (BERNIE) BODA & LINDA GOKEE
REGINA GASCO-BENTLEY & STELLA KAY
(Click Team To Read Their Statements)
BERNADECE (BERNIE) BODA & LINDA GOKEE
REGINA GASCO-BENTLEY & STELLA KAY
(Click Candidate Name To View Their Statement)
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LTBB Events
The Language Department will be hosting our Parent Group on Thursday May 22nd from 4-7pm at the Community Building. Anishinaabemto Gdobinoojinhim! - Speak the Language to Your Child! Parents and caregivers are encouraged to bring their children with them. Activities, toys, snack, and dinner provided! Returning parents please bring your baby sign...
Contact SPRING
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https://app.hellosign.com/s/LJki90VA
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