In the early 1950's the Original Bands began yet another effort at organization. These efforts developed by the building of a roll of individuals who could trace their ancestry to members of the historic bands.

The organizational efforts were aided by the fact that throughout the 19th century the U.S. Government had kept census rolls. These rolls like the Durant Roll of 1908-1910 and many other Annuity rolls were done to make payments to the Anishinabeg for treaty obligations. These rolls made it possible to identify individuals whose ancestors were tribal members.

By the late 1950's, the Sault Ste. Marie Anishinabeg had compiled membership rolls, researched their history, and were preparing to bring before the U.S. Government their case for recognition as a federally recognized tribe. In the late 1960's and early 1970's Shunk Road and Marquette Avenue area in Sault Ste. Marie had no paved road, it had no public housing, it had no businesses, it provided virtually no public or tribal services. The roads were so bad at times school buses wouldn't drive down it to pick up children for school. The city of Sault Ste. Marie did not provide water and sewer services to the Shunk Road area. Ditches were cesspools especially in the Spring and Fall. The Tribe had no land until Mary Murray donated 40 acres of land on Sugar Island. Most of the Marquette Avenue and Shunk Road area was either wet lands or swamp.