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Unofficial Secretarial Election Notice

The secretarial election process to determine if the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians adopts an amended constitution creating a three separate co-equal branch government is under way. Here are a set of dates to keep an eye on starting next week with election packet mailings and going through tabulation night on Nov. 19.

Beginning Sept. 23, secretarial election notice packets will be sent via U.S. Mail to the mailing addresses of Sault Tribe citizens who are 18 years of age or older on or before Nov. 19, 2026. These packets include copies of the proposed amended constitution, the Constiution, and voter registration forms. Voter registration forms must be returned to the Secretarial Election Board no later than 2 p.m. EDT on Oct. 19.

The only way to participate in this secretarial election is by returning your registration form on time by U.S. Mail. If you are eligible to vote and do not receive your packet, you should contact the Secretarial Election Board chairman or a board member.

Following the deadline to receive voter registration forms on Oct. 19, the initial Registered Voters List will be posted at the Sault Tribe Governmental Office and at the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Michigan Agency in Sault Ste. Marie. The lists are expected to be posted by 4:30 p.m. EDT or shortly thereafter on Oct. 19.

Sault Tribe citizens may challenge the inclusion, exclusion or omission of a name on the Registered Voters List. These written challenges must be submitted to the Secretarial Election Board Chairman no later than 4:30 p.m. EDT on Oct. 22 and must include the name of the affected individual or individuals, the reason why the name in question should be added or removed from the Registered Voters List, and supporting documentation. If an individual failed to submit their registration form on time, that person is precluded from challenging their own omission from the list. The Final Registered Voters List will be posted on or about 4:30 p.m. EDT on Oct. 23 at the Sault Tribe Governmental Office and the BIA, Michigan Agency.

Shortly after the Registered Voters List is finalized, a Mailout Ballot Packet will be sent by U.S. Mail to each registered voter on Oct. 26. These packets will include instructions on how to submit your ballot. They must be returned by U.S. Mail by Nov. 19 at 3 p.m. EDT or for one day only they may be hand delivered to the DreamMakers Theater at Kewadin Casino in Sault Ste. Marie between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Remember, you will be voting “yes” or “no” on if the Constitution will be amended to create three separate and equal branches of government. This will be the only question on the ballot.

Ballots will be opened and countered beginning at 4 p.m. on Nov. 19 at the DreamMakers Theater. Following the counting, election results will be posted on or about Nov. 19 at the Sault Tribe Governmental Office and BIA, Michigan Agency.
Registered voters may challenge the results of the election with a written challenge that includes substantiating evidence. These challenges must be received by the Chairman of the Secretarial Election Board by Nov. 24 at 4:30 p.m. EDT. Challenges received after this deadline will not be considered.

If Sault Tribe citizens vote “yes” to adopt an amended constitution, the results of the secretarial election go to the U.S. Department of the Interior for certification. If certified, the amended constitution takes effect establishing a three-branch government for the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Tribal Council would then have up to 18 months to update Tribal laws as required by the newly amended constitution.

The Sault Tribe Governmental Office is located at 523 Ashmun St., Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783. The BIA, Michigan Agency building is located at 2845 Ashmun St., Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783. The BIA’s Nicholas VanAlstine chairs the Secretarial Election Board. The Secretarial Election Board is composed of the following Sault Tribe citizens: Carolyn Dale, Jackie Minton, Colleen Utter, T.J. Derwin, Taylor Spade, Clarence Hudak, and Emily Smith.

For more on the secretarial election and to view the proposed amended constitution visit here.

Proposed 3-Branch Amended Sault Tribe Constitution

 

Early Childhood Programs

Details
Category: Education

Early Childhood Programs target children from infancy through pre-school.

2026-2027 Applications are now available

Programs are:

Program Overview

All classrooms are staffed by a Full-Time Instructor, who is supported by full-time and part-time aides. All classrooms follow the Creative Curriculum; expose children to Ojibwe teachings, and Anishinaabemowin (our Ojibwe language). Children also receive nutritious meals.

Children receive these services in a safe, nurturing, educational, culturally-appropriate setting. Our classrooms provide children with activities that help them grow mentally, socially, emotionally and physically. Services are offered to meet the special needs of children with disabilities.

Child Care Center

Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Child Care Center is a licensed child care center that offers high quality infant through pre-school age care. It is located at 4 Ice Circle and is open from 6:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Child Care Center is open to all tribal families, tribal employees, and surrounding community members. However, priority for enrollment in the Child Care Center is given to Tribal Members who are need of full time child care. Families can apply for subsidized child care through the Department of Human Services and Anishnabek and Community Family Services to assist in paying for the cost of care.

The center has an agreement with the Tribal Head Start program to provide care for children enrolled in the Head Start and Early Head Start program from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., parents assume the cost of before and after care for the extended care services that are provided to children enrolled in either Head Start or Early Head Start. As a result of this partnership all children receive the same educational services as children attending Head Start or Early Head Start, see program descriptions and eligibility requirements below.

For more information regarding the Child Care Center and cost for services please call 906‑632‑5258.

Early Head Start

Early Head Start is a federal program for infants and toddlers from low-income families. Early Head Start provides high quality child and family development services. The center based program serves 34 children and is located at 4 Ice Circle, Sault Ste. Marie, MI. Children are provided healthy meals and snacks.

The program is open to infants, toddler's ages 0-3 years. Eligibility requirements: Applicants must meet federal income guidelines and preference given to members of a federally recognized tribe.

For more information, please call 906‑635‑7722

Head Start

Head Start is a federal program for preschool children from low-income families. Head Start provides high quality child and family development services. Head Start serves 80 children with locations at 4 Ice Circle, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., and 225 WaSeh, St. Ignace, Mich. Head Start provides breakfast, lunch and limited bus transportation.

The Sault Ste. Marie program provides part-day, part-year classrooms that operate September through May and the Sault Tribe Child Care Center offers a full-day, full-year classroom. St. Ignace is an extended day program offering 7-hour sessions September through June, Monday through Thursday.

Head Start strives to ensure that its children are prepared to enter elementary school ready to learn and succeed. At Head Start, children socialize, solve problems and learn other experiences that help them become self-confident and successful in life.

Head Start Eligibility: Children must be 3 years old by Dec. 1 of each school year. Applicants must meet federal income guidelines and preference is given to members of a federally recognized tribe.

For more information, please call 906‑635‑7722.

Parents are key participants in Head Start/Early Head Start.

We encourage parents, family members and community members to become a part of our volunteer team.

They can participate in the classroom setting, help teachers prepare classroom activities and set up field trips. Parents are involved in committees that help staff form policies and procedures that impact their children and the program. Head Start/Early Head Start promotes parents as the child's "First Teacher."

© 2026 - Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Ken Bosma / CC BY