Community invited to exciting family friendly event

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. —The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians invites the community and public to its 37th annual Traditional Powwow and Summer Gathering July 13 through 15 at its powwow grounds off of Shunk Road in Sault Ste. Marie. Admission is free and open to the public. Join us for a family friendly event with drumming and dancing, Native food and craft vendors, a kids’ carnival, traditional feast and more.

Festivities begin Friday, July 13, with a kids’ carnival from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and open drumming and dancing at 7 p.m. On Saturday, July 14, grand entries are 1 and 7 p.m. with a free traditional feast at 5 p.m. and a hand drum contest at 6 p.m. Grand entry on Sunday, July 15, is at noon. This year’s celebration will feature singing and dance specials throughout the weekend in addition to jackpot spot dances and more fun.

Prior to the powwow, a spiritual gathering will take place on July 12 starting at sunrise.

The powwow theme this year is Miinaadendimowin Anishinaabe Bimaadiziwin Bawaating, “Respecting our way of life at Sault Ste. Marie.” Head Ogichidaa is Cecil Pavlat, Head Drum Judge is Justin Perrault Sr., Head Male Dance Judge is Ray Cadotte and Head Female Dance Judge is Julie Whitepigeon. Emcees are Jody Gaskin and Joe Medicine, and Arena Director is Bud Biron. No drugs or alcohol are allowed.

Camping is available on a first-come, first-served basis, with showers and restrooms available on site. Kewadin Casino and Convention Center, (800) 539-2346, is host hotel. For information about drums, dancers, vendors or the spiritual gathering, please call Sault Tribe Cultural Department at (906) 635-6050.

Pre-order a powwow t-shirt!

Powwow apparel sale to benefit the the Sault Tribe Gathering and Powwow July 13‑15. Order forms must be submitted no later than June 15, 2018. Please send all forms to the Big Bear Arena (ATTN. Lisa Moran), 2 Ice Circle Drive, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, fax them to (906) 632-6789 or email them to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Powwow apparel available are t-shirts, long sleeve shirts and crew neck sweaters, sizes small through 4XL, in men’s and women’s styles. All apparel is black with the powwow logo on the front. Prices and an order form are available at the tribe’s website, saulttribe.com.

Non-Sault Tribe members will be charged 6 percent sales tax.

If you would prefer to pay by check or money order, please make them payable to “Sault Tribe Powwow.”

 2018 powwow apparel order form

Just a reminder: our Summer schedule starts the week of May 28.
Summer schedule:
Mon – Fri: 5 a.m.–9 p.m.
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
The summer schedule runs Memorial Day until Labor Day.

Memorial Day Holiday Schedule
Fri, May 25 : Closes at 6 p.m.
Sat., May 26: Closed
Sun., May 27: Closed
Mon., May 28: Closed Have a safe and wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

Sault Tribe’s primary election is complete and unofficial results posted:

Unit I: Incumbents Kimberle Gravelle and DJ Hoffman and newcomers Betty Freiheit and Nichole Causley will run for two seats. Unit III: Incumbent Keith Massaway and newcomer Geraldine Brow will run for one seat.

Since two candidates ran for one seat in Units II, IV and V, a primary election was not necessary. In Unit II, incumbent Catherine Hollowell faces Paul Barbeaux; in Unit IV, incumbent Denise Chase faces Lacey Kinnart; and in Unit V, newcomers Tyler LaPlaunt and Charles Matson face off. Unit V rep Anita Nelson decided not to run again.

Each general election candidate received a free half-page ad in this issue of Win Awenen Nisitotung. Election ads from Units V to I start on page 4.

Unofficial elections results:

Blank ballots for the General Election will be mailed June 7 and must be returned for the count by election day, June 28.

The 19th annual JKL Bahweting School Jiingtamok is on Friday, June 1, 1-3:30 p.m., grand entry at 1 p.m.

Please join us for our annual end of the school year celebration!

All parents, family and community members are welcome to attend. We encourage you to bring your regalia, but it is not required for dancing.

We will finish the event at 3:30 p.m.

Reminder: all visitors must check in at the office.

Also, if you wish your student to have sun-screen it must be provided by the parent or guardian. 

In the event it rains, we will go into the gym.

Uniting Three Fires Against Violence (Michigan’s Statewide Tribal Domestic and Sexual Violence Coalition) along with the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and Bay Mills Indian Community advocates are seeking to hold several survivors talking circles intended to gain insight and input from survivors regarding: medical responses to sexual assault, sexual assault evidence kit collection, sexual assault nurse examiner services, traditional and cultural healing approaches within clinical settings, and other barriers survivors experience.

Please consider joining us and sharing your input at our first survivor circle scheduled for June 6 at the Niigaanagiizhik Building, 11 Ice Circle in Sault Ste. Marie from 5:30 to 8 p.m. We will be providing $25 Visa gift card to our attendees to support transportation. Only 25 attendees are permitted for this event. Indian Taco dinner will be provided.

This event is a safe and trusted space for survivors to share their experience.

We will provide child activities for the children in attendance. Please call UTFAV to reserve your spot at 906‑253‑9775 or text 906‑259‑2868.

Sault Tribe Governmental Offices and Health Centers will be closed Monday, May 28, for Memorial Day. Thank you.