Newsroom

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. —Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians recently received $211 million from the American Recovery Act, signed by President Biden on March 11.

The Act invests $1.75 billion in American Indian and Alaska Native governments. It includes $772.5 million for tribal government services, public safety and justice, social services, child welfare assistance and other related expenses; $100 million for tribal housing improvement; $20 million to provide and deliver potable water; and $7.5 million for related federal administrative costs and oversight, according to the BIA. The Bureau of Indian Education was funded $850 million for BIE-operated schools, tribally controlled schools, and tribal colleges and universities to support quality education delivery while protecting students, teachers, and communities from COVID-19.

At the Sault Tribe Board of Directors June 8 workshop, the board began work to develop a priority list for American Recovery Act plan implementation for the tribe and its membership. The board is identifying funding priority areas based upon a system of input from team members, tribal members and the tribe’s strategic plan. After this is complete, the tribe will align projects and services in line with these priority areas. The membership will be included in the process and its input will help shape programming.

The board recently announced that this process has begun, and it will publish updates as decisions are made.