Print
Category: News

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. —Communities throughout the Upper Peninsula are benefitting from nearly $165,000 in contributions from the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians that helps villages, cities, townships, counties and universities support senior and youth services and broader recreational and cultural opportunities for area residents.

The money is part of the twice-annual payments the Sault Tribe has distributed since 1993 to U.P. communities and organizations based on 2 percent slot revenues from tribe’s Kewadin Casino properties in Sault Ste. Marie, St. Ignace, Hessel, Manistique and Christmas. In the past 24 years, nearly $42.5 million has been awarded throughout the U.P. based on the tribe’s 2 percent revenue.

The tribe disbursed close to $900,000 in its latest distribution, with nearly a fifth going to support community amenities such as museums, skating programs, food pantries and adult day care.

Communities that benefitted from the latest distribution include:

Lake Superior State University’s Gem of the North campaign to improve university facilities, $52,275
Museum of Ojibwa Culture, City of St. Ignace, $13,281
DeTour Village Community Pavilion bathrooms, $10,000
Little Bear East Recreation Park, City of St. Ignace, $10,000
Michilimackinac Historical Society, City of St. Ignace, $10,000
Bay de Noc Community College for the Northern Lights YMCA, $10,000
Kinross Charter Township after-school activities, $6,000
Trout Lake Township Historic Community Park Building, $5,981
County of Marquette NMU Powwow, $5,141
Alger County Food Pantry, Munising, $5,000
Hessel School House renovations in Clark Township, $5,000
McMillan Township Recreation Center, $5,000
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, Marquette County, $5,000
Superior District Library accessibility, $5,000
Bishop Baraga Park roof replacement in Schoolcraft County, $4,500
Alger County Adult Day Care program, $4,141
Grand Marais Amateur Radio repairs, Burt Township, $4,000
Mackinac County toy drive, $3,002
City of Manistique open skate for community members, $3,000
City of Marquette Beacon House Fresh Food Fund, $3,000
City of Marquette Children’s Museum, $3,000
County of Marquette Meals on Wheels funding, $3,000
Schoolcraft County Community Christmas Program, $2,750

“Receiving the 2 percent funding from the Sault Tribe to support improvements or new projects for the community residents and visitors to our area has a big impact on how these projects are funded,” DeTour Village President and Mayor Murray Fountain said after DeTour received $10,000 to improve bathrooms at the Community Pavilion.

“The Sault Tribe’s financial support and substantial contributions for improvements has made an immense difference,” Fountain added. “We are very grateful and thankful for the Sault Tribe’s continued support.”

Marquette City Manager Mike Angeli said the tribe’s contributions help provide services that are a lifeline to many in the Marquette area. “Whether it’s money to help bring meals to seniors, provide a top-notch children’s museum for area youngsters or make fresh food available for patients and families that travel across the U.P. to receive specialty medical care at U.P. Health System who stay at Beacon House, the Sault Tribe’s financial support makes a huge difference,” Angeli said.

For more information about the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, please visit www.saulttribe.com. For more information about Kewadin Casinos, please visit www.kewadin.com.