News

05 Apr

Posted at 09:00h in News

The 2022 Proposed Tribal Government Budget can be found in the Citizens Portal, Legislative/Tribal Council, Committees/Appropriations and Finance Link. Also, a reminder that on  April 7, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. there are Executive and Election Board Budget Hearings; April 9, 2021 is  Legislative, Judiciary and any additional Executive departments as needed; and April 13, 2021 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. is the Public Budget Hearing....

05 Apr

Posted at 08:33h in News

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many families. At FEMA, our mission is to help people before, during and after disasters. We are dedicated to helping ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the virus. Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA will provide financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020. FEMA will begin accepting applications for Funeral Assistance on Monday, April 12, 2021 through their dedicated call center. More information can be found at: https://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance.   Who is Eligible? To be eligible for funeral assistance, you must meet these conditions: The death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia. The death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19. The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after January 20, 2020. There is no requirement for the deceased person to have been a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien.   How to Apply COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Line Number Applications begin on April 12, 2021 844-684-6333 | TTY: 800-462-7585 Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central Time If you had COVID-19 funeral expenses, we encourage you to keep and gather documentation. Types of information should include: An official death certificate that attributes the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19 and shows that the death occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia. Funeral expenses documents(receipts, funeral home contract, etc.) that includes the applicant’s name, the deceased person’s name, the amount of funeral expenses, and the dates the funeral expenses happened. Proof of funds received from other sources specifically for use toward funeral costs. We are not able to duplicate benefits received from burial or funeral insurance, financial assistance received from voluntary agencies, government agencies, or other sources.   How Funds are Received If you are eligible for funeral assistance you will receive a check by mail, or funds by direct deposit, depending on which option you choose when you apply for assistance....

24 Mar

Posted at 14:22h in News

Aanii all. After careful consideration and with input from our emergency management team, the LTBB Pow Wow Committee sadly must cancel this year's Odawa Homecoming Pow Wow. With the ongoing pandemic and the high COVID positive numbers in Michigan, we feel we must continue to protect our tribal community and the community in general. It would be extremely difficult to limit the crowd and to enforce social distancing practices. Please stay safe, and together, we will get through this. We look forward to the future when we can safely gather at our annual pow wow and renew kinship. Miigwetch. Annette VanDeCar, LTBB Pow Wow Committee Chair ...

22 Mar

Posted at 13:06h in News

LTBB Government buildings were shut down on March 16, 2020 due to the COVID 19 pandemic. On May 18, 2020, we implemented Phase I of the government’s phased reopening plan. Phase I ended on June 27, 2020. Phase II originally was scheduled from June 28th to July 25th but due to an increase in cases near our government operations we’ve had to extend several times including this current extension to Saturday, April 24, 2021. [button size='small' style='' text='Continue Reading Phase II Plan' icon='' icon_color='' link='/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/LTBB-Reopening-Phase-II-Plan-Extension-to-4.24.2021.pdf' target='_blank' color='' hover_color='' border_color='' hover_border_color='' background_color='' hover_background_color='' font_style='' font_weight='' text_align='' margin='']...

10 Mar

Posted at 13:38h in News

Our COVID Vaccine Information Line is overwhelmed with calls and the voicemail is continuously filling up. Many of the messages say “I submitted the form but wanted to be sure I was on the list.”  This is clogging up our system. Please direct anyone from the Tribal Community to email us at covidvaccine@ltbbodawa-nsn.gov; this will be their quickest way to get a call to schedule.  Make sure they leave this information: Name Address Phone Number DOB Age Email Native / non Native Connection to the Tribe   These are our first priority people and we are working to get Tribal Community scheduled first.  This includes Tribal Citizens, any Native Americans, descendants, Tribal Employees, household members of any of those groups,  family members of these groups, and any Tribal partners (like Victories Square, etc.)     For anyone you know in the service industry who wants a vaccine, please send them the information below.  Completing and submitting this form is the best way for them to get on the service industry vaccine list: Thank you for your email, if you could please click on the link below and enter your information. This will add you onto our list. Service industry employees MUST bring a paycheck stub to verify employment in the service industry.   LTBB Vaccine Sign Up Link or you can use the QR Code below. ...

04 Mar

Posted at 15:59h in News

Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians is pleased to offer COVID-19 vaccines to help build protection for Northern Michigan from the COVID-19 virus. The Tribe's top priority will remain vaccinating Native Americans and descendants.  However, the Tribe is now able to make extra vaccines available to an important group of people in the area: service industry employees.  "Since the beginning of the pandemic, employees working in the service industry have been on the front lines, continuing to provide important services to the public, putting themselves at risk," said Tribe Chairwoman Regina Gasco-Bentley.  "We are pleased to be able to offer vaccines to this sector of employees who are so critical to the economy of our area." Vaccines are being offered to employees who work for these types of employers in Emmet, Charlevoix, and Cheboygan counties: Grocery stores Restaurants/food and beverage outlets Gas stations Retail stores Salons Hotels Entertainment outlets (movie theatre, bowling alley, etc.)   ”The Health Department of NW Michigan welcomes the efforts of the LTBB of Odawa Indians to acquire and administer Covid-19 vaccine to tribal and non-tribal citizens of our region”, stated Dr. Joshua Meyerson, Medical Director for the Health Department. “As their vaccine allocation is separate from what we receive through the State of Michigan, these additional doses will help all of us reach the goal of achieving widespread immunity in Northern Michigan.” Vaccines will be administered by appointment only at the LTBB Vaccine Clinic at Courtyard by Marriott in Petoskey. People who work in these businesses can get on the LTBB vaccine list by clicking the link below or scanning the QR code and completing the form. By submitting this form, your name will be added to the list of people who want the vaccine, and LTBB Health Department staff will contact you to schedule your appointment as vaccines become available. It is important to remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint!  Please be patient and understand we will work through the vaccine list as quickly as possible as vaccines become available. When arriving at the vaccine clinic, people with vaccine appointments will be required to show a paycheck stub as proof of employment in the service industry in the three-county area before receiving the vaccine.  By providing these vaccines, LTBB is helping to build the firewall around our area, keeping COVID-19 out. Employers, please share this vaccine registration link and QR code with your employees to give them the opportunity to get a vaccine. Email any questions to:  covidvaccine@ltbbodawa-nsn.gov.  Do not use this email to sign up for the vaccine list.  Miigwetch (Thank You)! LTBB Vaccine Sign Up Link ...

04 Mar

Posted at 12:16h in News

We are excited to offer 3 paid Internships at the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society beginning May 2021. 2021 Education Internship Description 2021 CLEO Internship Application...

03 Mar

Posted at 13:38h in News

As of today, LTBB has vaccinated 909 people with at least their primary dose of the COVID-19 vaccine!   As a result of the approval of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine, LTBB expects to receive a large increase in the amount of vaccines to administer. Our philosophy is that the more people that are vaccinated, the better protected our Tribal Community will be!   Most importantly, throughout our vaccine process, Native Americans, descendants, and our Tribal Community will always be prioritized for vaccines.   As we move forward, as increased number of vaccines continue to arrive at LTBB, here is our vaccine outreach plan:   LTBB Vaccine Clinic in Petoskey will continue to schedule from our current list of Tribal Community members who want the vaccine. Currently, there are around 200 people on that list. As Tribal Community members call the COVID-10 Vaccine Information Line or email covidvaccine@ltbbodawa-nsn.gov, they will be added to the list and prioritized over other people wanting the vaccine. This email and phone line are monitored daily, and names are added to the scheduling list. A Vaccine Clinic will be scheduled in Lansing, MI, to vaccinate LTBB Tribal Citizens, other Native Americans, descendants, and household members of these people, if we find there is enough interest from our downstate community. The date for this clinic has not been set and plans are just beginning for this. In northern MI, the vaccine will be offered to service industry employees, as this group of people has been putting themselves at risk throughout the pandemic, and they are not currently able to get the vaccine through other channels. As our LTBB enterprises are part of the service industry, we understand the importance of protecting those employees. Our Tribal Community members interact with service industry employees regularly, for example, buying groceries or getting gas. Vaccinating this sector will not only benefit those people but will also offer further protection for our Tribal Community.   To get on the LTBB Vaccine List, please email covidvaccine@ltbbodawa-nsn.gov, or call the CVIL at 231-242-1780. ...