November 2022 | Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan
To celebrate Native American Heritage Month, FJ will be donating 2% of this month's sales to the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan (ITCMI).
When originally incorporated as a nonprofit in 1968, ITCMI united four tribes out of financial necessity. They were each so small in population that an organization combining all the numbers could generate more fundable programs for much needed delivery services to tribal members. Today, ITCMI is comprised of all twelve federally recognized tribes in Michigan. Their mission is to (1) act as a forum for member tribes, (2) advocate for member tribes in the development of programs and policies that would improve the lives of Michigan's Native Americans, and (3) provide technical assistance to member tribes, such as assisting in the development of tribal regulations, ordinances, and policies.
The twelve federally recognized tribes are:
- Bay Mills Indian Community
- Hannahville Indian Community
- Keweenaw Bay Indian Community
- Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe
- Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians
- Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
- Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians
- Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
- Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
- Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish (Gun Lake Tribe)
- Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians
- Nottawaseppi Band of Huron Potawatomi
(The four original tribes are bolded.)
To serve the Indigenous community, ITCMI provides services through the following departments:
- Health Education and Chronic Disease
- Childhood and Family Services
- Maternal and Early Childhood Services
- Environmental Services
- Administration Department
- Head Start Program
- Economic Development
- Behavioral Health and Services
They offer resources related to COVID-19, nutrition and food access, cancer prevention, and many more. To learn more, apply for a job, and/or use ITCMI's comprehensive resources, visit their website.