A Tribal History

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

Calendar

(Click for full Calendar)

Jan 2026
- Mon 19
  - 3:00 PM
    
    Citizenship Commission Meeting
- Tue 20
  - 9:00 AM
    
    Tribal Council Work Session
  - 10:00 AM
    
    Open Beading
  - 11:00 AM
    
    Elders Luncheon
- Wed 21
  - 10:00 AM
    
    Gaming Authority Regular Meeting
  - 11:00 AM
    
    Elders Luncheon
  - 11:00 AM
    
    Gaming Authority Online Meeting
  - 5:30 PM
    
    Gaming Regulatory Commission Meeting

LTBB Hosted Events

Tribal Code of Law

Citizens Portal Invitations to Bid

Forms Directory Employment Opportunities

11/26/2025 Living Wage Memo

Per Tribal Resolution #102619-05 Promotion of a Living Wage, the calculations for the Living Wage are as follows:
According to Rentdata.org for 2025, Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Emmet County is $1,154 per month and a three-bedroom apartment is $1,390, creating an average rent of $1,272.00.

Living Wage Memo effective 010126

01/15/2026 Marty Van De Car Memorial Scholarship

The Marty Van De Car Memorial Scholarship was established in 2023 by Marty’s family through donations from their family and friends to honor Marty’s life and legacy.

His parents, Sarah M. and Charles D. Van De Car, Jr., valued higher education and instilled the need to earn a college degree in all three of their children. His mother, Sarah Van De Car, from the King and Kenoshmeg family lines, was a humble nurse who led by example and earned her nursing degree in the 1950s when it was not easy for any woman, especially one of American Indian lineage, to earn a college degree. All three of her children then followed in her footsteps.

Marty attended North Central Michigan College and then Central Michigan University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in political science. He worked tirelessly for both the tribal and non-tribal communities to build community and bridges between each. He knew when each community worked together and truly valued the other, resources could go further, and programs could expand and grow.

This scholarship fund aims to continue Marty’s legacy of promoting his cultural heritage and community building by assisting another to build community through their education endeavors.

Criteria

Graduating Emmet County, Michigan, high school student or currently enrolled student who is an Emmet County resident who is continuing their education at an accredited college, university, community college or eligible trade/technical/vocational institution.
Preference given to an American Indian student. Students should provide a copy of their tribal identification card or letter from the tribal enrollment office.
Selection based on essay response highlighting how students plan to utilize their degree/program of study to build community, honor and share one’s cultural heritage.

Award Details

$1,000 for one year; non-renewable.

Deadline

March 2, 2026

The application to apply for the scholarship is available online at www.phsacf.org. This scholarship program is administered by the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation.

01/09/2026 Victories Square II: Housing Built With Purpose

The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians is pleased to announce it recently received $1.5 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.

Odawa Economic Development Management, Inc., an LTBB tribal corporation under the Legislative Branch, and Community Housing Network will build 44 units in Petoskey, MI, at the Tribe’s Victories Square property in 2026. The units will be for households earning between 30-80% Area Median Income with 23 units receiving project-based rental assistance.

The apartment building, Victories Square II, will be located adjacent to the Tribe’s Victories Square I apartment building, also built with the assistance of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. Victories Square I consists of 50 studio, one- and two-bedroom rental apartments with a large community room, a private meeting room, a laundry and an exercise room with equipment.

Tribal Council passed a motion to eliminate credit scoring from Victories Square Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Buildings 4 and 5 (located on Lots 4 and 5 on the accompanying Victories Square map) applications. There was a three-week timeline where only LTBB Tribal Citizens’ applications were processed for Victories Square I. The same application process will be followed for the Victories Square II building. A ribbon cutting ceremony for Victories Square I was held on October 30, 2025, and occupancy of the building began in December 2025.

While this project is designed first to meet the needs of LTBB citizens, it also helps stabilize the local housing market by increasing long-term, affordable rental options. When families have access to stable housing, it strengthens the local workforce, supports nearby businesses and reduces pressure on emergency and social services — benefits which reach beyond the development itself.

Victories Square II reflects how Tribal policy decisions, carried out through a Tribal economic entity, create lasting value for our Nation and the community we share.

The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program is federally funded and administered by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. It provides tax incentives on a competitive basis to developers who build or rehabilitate housing for low- and moderate-income residents. The credits help reduce financing costs, making it possible to offer lower rents and ensure long-term affordability.

01/08/2026 Project Connect

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Jan

Venison Giveaway

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16

Jan

Snowsnake

LET IT SNOW .....because snow snake is coming!!!!

Community Health is planning this event and would like you to get your snow snake waxed up and ready to slide down the track.

WHAT?? you don't have a snake ...No Worries Community Health has some raw snake material for you to pick up at the Health Park.

Limited supplies First come First served!!!

Easy REGISTRATION see flyer for details.
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15

Dec

13th Moon/Transition Moon

As we approach the transition time of the upcoming changing of seasons and look to begin a new cycle of growth, harvest and preparing what is to come, we look at Chi-Mnidoons Giizis/Big Spirit Moon for guidance and instructions. Chi Mnidoons Giizis reminds us to reflect on the seasons past and also helps us prepare what is to come. Mother earth/Iskakimekwe is resting and giving us time to gather together to, share, to reflect and pass on lessons and stories as we know them to be. We are also reminded to reach out to all of our relations, the two legged, the four legged, the plants, the swimmers, the crawlers and reach deep inside of ourselves and be thankful for gifts given.
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01

Dec

December Moon

This time of year, we are reminded about the importance of self-care and reaching out to our Spiritual Guides for their guidance in helping retain balance in our lives.
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20

Nov

Visitor Check-in

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18

Nov

Suicide Prevention Education & Resource Guide

Resources Charlevoix/Emmet Counties: Suicide Prevention Education & Resource Guide

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

Read Guide Here or

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