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SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. —The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians today announced that tribal voters have approved a resolution that opens membership in the tribe beginning Feb. 1, 2024, for all adults who can provide proof of ancestry according to the tribe’s Membership Ordinance. Unofficial results from the Nov. 20 referendum indicate that tribal voters approved Tribal Resolution 2023-261 Tribal Roll Opening by a margin of 58% to 42%.

The Tribe has 15,377 registered voters who were eligible to vote in this referendum. According to Tribal Code, 30% of eligible voters must return a ballot for the results to be binding on the Tribe. In this case, 4,613 ballots had to be returned for the results to be binding.

Based on the unofficial results, 5,397 ballots were returned, resulting in a 35% return rate, making the results binding. Resolution 2023-261 received 3,126 approve votes and 2,262 disapprove votes.