Below is the **UNCERTIFIED** list of candidates for the 2026 General Election. The Election Commission held the Primary Election count on April 30, 2026.

Per Tribal Code Chapter 10, Section 10.119 (3), all contests relating to the tabulation of Votes or the results of an election must be submitted within three (3) days of the posting of the uncertified results in accordance with Section 10.123 (1). Contests relating to the results of the 2026 Primary Election must be submitted no later than by 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Contests may be submitted to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Unit 1:
Robert McRorie
Isaac McKechnie
Lori Jump
Ashley Gravelle

Unit 2:
Kimberly Lee
Dean Hyslop, Sr.

Unit 3:
Fred Paquin
Sue St. Onge

Unit 4:
Abbrielle Hoholik
Cole Goudreau

Unit 5:
Tyler LaPlaunt
Rita Glyptis

Uncertified Candidate list for the 2026 Election

Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians 44th Annual Bahweting Homecoming Powwow July 3‑5, 2026

Schedule of Events:
Thursday, July 2 - All day spiritual gathering. Starting with sunrise ceremony.

Grand Entries:
Friday, July 3: 7 p.m.
Saturday, July 4: 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 5: 12 noon

Dancer Registration (no cost): Friday 5-6:45 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m.-1230 p.m.

Head Staff:
Emcee: Shannon Martin
Emcee: Beedahsiga Elliot
Head Veteran: Nick VanAlstine
Arena Director: Lilman Quintero
Head Dance Judges: Alexa & Bud Day
Head Drum Judge: Harvey Dreaver
Host Drum: chosen each session
Head Dancers: chosen each session

Food and Craft Vendor Registration:
Must be enrolled in a tribe or first nation.
Register by June 15 by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
General Powwow Questions call (906) 635-6510.

Dance Contest:
Golden Age (50 +) $1000, $700, $500, $300:
Men Combined and Women Combined

Adults (18-49) - $1000, $700, $500, $300
Men: Traditional, Grass, Fancy & Woodland
Women: Traditional, Fancy, Jingle & Woodland

Teens (13-17) $400, $300, $200, $100
Boys Combined and Girls Combined

Juniors (6-12) - $200, $150, $100, $150
Boys Combined & Girls Combined

Drum Contest
1st Place: $10,000
2nd Place: $8,000
3rd Place: $6,000
4th Place: $4,000
5th Place: $2,000
Drum split for all other drums.
Must have a minimum of 5 registered singers.

Powwow Committee Specials:
Old Style Jingle - Dance Special
$500, $400, $300, $200, $100

Old Style Sidestep - Singing Contest
$1000, $500, $250

Bells Only - Dance Special
$500, $400, $300, $200, $100

Free Admission. Open to the Public.
Location: Sault Tribe Powwow Grounds, 11 Ice Circle Drive, Sault Ste Marie, MI 49783
Host Hotel: Kewadin Casinos Sault Ste. Marie - call 906‑632‑0530 (room block 2984)
Camping: Free rustic camping (first come, first served) bathroom and shower building on site.
No drugs, alcohol, politics or pets allowed. Not responsible for loss of property or accidents.

Flyer

The Sault Tribe Board of Directors’ Workshop Agenda for May 6, 2026, is the following:

Membership Services Presentations Agenda:
10 a.m. Family Services (ACFS) Division
11 a.m. Education Division
11:45 a.m. Enrollment Department
1 p.m. Natural Resources Division
2 p.m. Recreation Division
2:15 p.m. Language & Culture Division
2:45 p.m. Elder Services Division
3:15 p.m. Housing Division
3:45 p.m. Law Enforcement/Conservation Department

The workshop is being held at the Sault Kewadin Casino Whitefish Point Room. Tribal members may attend the workshop except for closed sessions or items, or attend by Zoom at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84149623333. Those who have already registered to Zoom Board of Directors meetings need not register for workshops. These presentations will be live streamed to Facebook and YouTube.

Agenda 

The following Sault Tribe Committees have vacant seats or upcoming vacancies. Sault Tribe members interested in filling these vacancies should submit one letter of intent and three letters of recommendation (forms available online or contact Lona) from other members to Lona Stewart at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 523 Ashmun Street, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, or call 906‑635‑6050 with any questions.

Anishinaabe Cultural Committee - One vacancy - male (4-year term)
Child Welfare Committee - Three vacancies - one 4-year term, one term expires November 2026, one expires May 2029
Conservation Committee:
Commercial Fisher - One vacancy (current term expires May 2026)
Non-Commercial Fisher - One vacancy (current term expires May 2026)
Elder Advisory Committee
Unit I - Sault - Two regular vacancies (4-year terms); one alternate vacancy (4-year term)
Unit II - Newberry - One regular vacancy, term expires July 2029; one alternate vacancy (4-year term)
Unit III - St. Ignace - One regular vacancy - term expires October 2029; two alternate vacancies (4-year terms)
Unit IV - Manistique - One regular vacancy (4-year term)
Unit V - Marquette - One alternate vacancy (4-year term)
Elder Subcommittees
Unit I - Sault - Three regular vacancies - one term expires September 2029, two 4-year terms
Unit II - Hessel - One alternate vacancy (4-year term)
Unit II - Naubinway - Two regular vacancies - one term expires May 2027, one 4-year term; one alternate vacancy (4-year term)
Unit II - Newberry - Two regular vacancies, one term expires March 2028, one 4-year term
Unit III - St. Ignace - One alternate vacancy - term expires March 2028
Unit IV - Escanaba - Four regular vacancies (4-year terms); one alternate vacancy (4-year term)
Unit IV - Manistique - Two regular vacancies, one term expires November 2026, one 4-year term; one alternate vacancy, term expires March 2028
Unit V - Munising - One alternate vacancy (4-year term)
Unit V - Marquette - Four regular vacancies (4-year terms); one alternate vacancy (4-year term)
Food Sovereignty Committee - Three vacancies (4-year terms)
Health Board - One vacancy (4-year term)
Sault Tribe Election Commission - Three vacancies terms expiring November 2030

The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Board of Directors will hold a regular meeting May 5, 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:
Inland Fish and Wildlife FY26 Budget Mod
NRD GLRI Capacity FY26 Budget Mod
Health – Opioid Settlement FY26 Budget Mod
Health – Human Resources FY26 Budget Mod
Health – Manistique Medical FY26 Budget Mod
Health – Marquette Medical FY26 Budget Mod
Health – Marquette Equipment FY26 Budget Mod
BIA CARES Establish FY26 Budget
Amending Chapter 20 – Commercial Fishing Treaty
Amend 2024-399 ACFS Direct Service Database
STI Appointment Approval – Slomsky
STI Appointment Approval – Blanchard
Amend Ch. 30 – Child Welfare Code

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

Resolutions 

The Board reviewed the feedback from the BIA at their workshop on April 28, 2026, and sent the BIA the response which is linked to this post. Legal has sent a clean copy to the BIA so the regional office can do their layer of informal review. Once that informal review is completed the Board can make any changes (or no changes) based on that feedback. Once that is done, the Board can vote to trigger a secretarial election on the changes. As the tribe is engaged in the informal review process and are addressing BIA concerns and comments as we get them, it should limit time the BIA will need to spend on the technical review required under the federal regulations once the election process has started.

Memo