Newsroom

The Sault Tribe Conservation Committee will meet Monday, July 13, 2026, at the Kewadin Casino Whitefish Point Room in Sault Ste. Marie beginning at 5 p.m. Sault Tribe members are welcome to attend in person or via Zoom at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83098945787.

Agenda

Feeding America West Michigan drive-thru mobile pantry, Thursday, July 9, at Big Bear Arena, 2 Ice Circle Drive in Sault Ste. Marie. Distribution will begin at 4 p.m. and end at 6 p.m. or until all food has been given out.

Mobile Pantries are like farmers markets on wheels that provide groceries – including produce, protein, dairy, grains, and more – to anyone in need at no charge.

When coming to the distribution, turn onto Bahweting Drive (off of Shunk Road). Do not block driveways.

In order to pick up food for a household other than your own, you must have written permission with signature that includes: household name and address, how many people live in the household, how many are children, how many are senior citizens/elders and how many are veterans. Limit of two proxy pickups per vehicle for distribution.

Flyer

Tribal members are invited to attend the 2026 Board of Directors Installation Monday, July 6, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., at the Sault Ste. Marie Kewadin Casino Grand Ballroom.

—Oath of Office
—Presentation of Gifts
—Reception
—Election of Officers to follow Reception

For further information, please contact Lona or Samuel, 800‑793‑0660 or 906‑635‑6050.

2026 Board of Directors Installation

The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Board of Directors will hold a regular meeting July 7, 2026, beginning 5 p.m. at Sault Kewadin Casino Whitefish Point Room, in person or via Zoom, https://zoom.us/j/83640619761.

“Membership Participation” will be held at 5 p.m. in person or by virtual attendance. The link is available at the Sault Tribe website saulttribe.com under membership assistance for the meeting link and Membership Form that must be completed. The deadline to submit a form is 1 p.m. on meeting day. The link is https://zoom.us/j/83640619761. Those who have already registered for Zoom meetings need not register again unless they have a matter for the board.

To attend the scheduled workshop, except for closed session or items, go to https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84149623333. Those who have already registered to Zoom Board of Directors meetings need not register for workshops.

Those who have already registered for Zoom meetings need not register again.

On the agenda under Resolutions is:
USDA FY26 Budget Modification
Big Bear Admin FY26 Budget Modification
Enrollment FY26 Budget Modification
National Telecom/Information Establish FY27 Budget
Health PRC FY26 Budget Modification
Human Resources FY26 Budget Modification
JKL Fiduciary FY26 Budget Modification
Adam Walsh Establish FY26 Budget
GLRI Wolf Management Establish FY27 Budget
Nunn’s Creek FY26 Budget Modification
BIA FY26 Budget Modification
Tribal Wildlife Grant (TWG) 2026 Application
Aquatic Invasive Species Grant Application
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Application
Amend Res. 2007-96/Special Needs Scholarships
Award RFP 26-022 To Great Lakes Roofing
Authorize Family Violence Prevention Application
OVW FY26 Grants to Indian Tribal Governments
MIEA Tribal Elder Appointments
Elder Ramp Program Policy Update
Accept 2025 Housing Authority Audit
Housing Authorization to Apply for CoC Grant
Amending Chapter 90 Housing Authority
Rescinding Chapter 92 Utility Authority

Under New Business, the board will consider Committee Appointments/Resignations, Secretarial Election Board and Board Concerns.

Resolutions

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. —The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Board of Directors will hold a special meeting at 5 p.m. on July 6, at the Sault Kewadin Casino Grand Island Room, in person or via Zoom, https://zoom.us/j/83640619761. Those who have already registered for Zoom meetings need not register again.

On the agenda under Presentation is: Certification of 2026 General Election Results.

Under New Business is: Election of Officers.

Agenda

Below are the **CERTIFIED** Results for the 2026 General Election. The Election Commission held the General Election count on June 25, 2026.

Unit 1:
Ashley Gravelle Robert McRorie

Unit 2:
Kimberly Lee

Unit 3:
Sue St. Onge

Unit 4:
Cole Goudreau

Unit 5:
Tyler LaPlaunt

Memo

Due to ongoing technical difficulties, the ‘This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.’ email monitoring interested volunteers for the Secretarial Election Board may not have received emails sent from June 23 to today. If you have submitted a letter of intent to be on the Secretarial Election Board and have not received a confirmation email, please re-send your message to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to ensure your interest is received and logged properly. You will receive a confirmation email upon receipt.

The deadline to submit a letter of intent to be a part of the Secretarial Election Board is Friday, July 3.

The Sault Tribe is seeking one Tribal citizen from each of the five voting units and two at-large Tribal Citizen for the Secretarial Election Board. The board will oversee the upcoming election determining if membership will vote to adopt a three-branch government.

Selections will be made by drawing names from the list of interested Tribal citizens. The drawing is anticipated to take place by the July 7 Board of Directors meeting.

If you are interested in participating on the board, please submit your name, enrollment number, contact information, a letter of intent and the election unit in which you reside to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. If selected, you will be expected to be able to attend in person meetings in Sault Ste. Marie.

Below are the **UNCERTIFIED** results for the 2026 General Election. The Election Commission held the General Election count on June 25, 2026.

Unit 1:

Ashley Gravelle

Robert McRorie

Unit 2:

Kimberly Lee

Unit 3:

Sue St. Onge

Unit 4:

Cole Goudreau

Unit 5:

Tyler LaPlaunt

Memo

MARQUETTE, MICH. —With the 2025-26 academic year winding down in early June, schools across the Upper Peninsula have put a bow on the school year. In the Central UP, a hands-on alternative school partnered with two tribal nations to make it a year to remember.

At Marquette Alternative High School, the future is brighter than ever, in part thanks to the installation of a new rooftop solar array that helps power the building and teach pupils about the power of sustainable energy.

In September 2025, four years of working and planning concluded with the installation of an 18.1-kilowatt solar panel system that aims to power roughly one-third of the school’s energy needs. The goal of the project was creating a clean power source, and just as importantly, teaching youth about the benefits of sustainable energy.

Leading the charge to bring a solar panel array to the alternative high school was teacher Brian Prill.

“We want to make our school and community a better place,” said Prill, noting the idea was sparked by students in an economics class he taught that focused on the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. “The students decided as a group to see if solar energy was feasible.”

The 18.1KW system cost just over $69,000 and was installed over a four-year period. Due to a substantial investment, “the Alt” turned to community partners with carbon neutral ambitions to make the dream a reality.

A collaboration between the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and Keweenaw Bay Indian Community was able to assist in funding that allowed the school to apply for a state grant, which fully funded the project. Over several years of applying for funds, approximately $35,000 came from the two tribes’ 2% funds that are designed to invest in communities they serve. These funds were essential in securing a state-matching grant to cover the cost of the project.

“It was a big project, and we were asking what they can support,” added Prill, citing the importance of the relationships between tribal governments and local education. “It’s about friendship amongst all government and reducing our carbon footprint.”

Prill said students are still assessing how much energy has been saved during the school year and have dashboards in the classroom to assess energy savings and consumptions. Students will review the data after a year with goals of using money saved to apply for more grants to grow the solar panel array.

“Energy sovereignty is highly valued within the Sault Tribe, making this project especially impactful to tribal membership in the Marquette area and the Central UP as a whole,” said Sault Tribe Chairman Austin Lowes. “Teaching the values of sustainability to students will have long term impacts across the UP.”

In Marquette, there are over 1,200 Sault Tribe members. Marquette Alternative High School has a sizeable tribal representation amongst its student body. The success of the Marquette Alternative High School’s solar panel array shines a bright light on collaboration between tribal nations and local education systems.

An elder assistant for the Youth Education & Activities Program (YEA) in Marquette is needed for 14 hours per week at $14.50 per hour. Sault Tribe members 60 and older who live in the seven-county service area may apply.

The elder assistant will assist YEA staff with preparations for activities and workshops, provide direct services to youth along side YEA staff, and assist with YEA program operations as needed.

High school diploma or equivalent is required. Experience working with youth is preferred. The successful candidate will be required to undergo and pass a background check. See the attached job description for more information. 

If interested, contact Brenda Cadreau, WIOA / Senior Employment Program, (906)635-4767 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Job Description