Central Michigan University

Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe

The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Mount Pleasant, Michigan, comprises mainly the Saginaw, Black River, and Swan Creek Ojibwe bands.

The tribe provides a variety of governmental services to its members, the reservation, and surrounding communities. These services include police and fire protection, social and health services, housing, and economic development that benefit all of Isabella County.

Notable facts

• The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe is Isabella county's largest employer.
• The tribe gives more than $64 million annually to local and state government and services.
• The reservation was established through a treaty dated Aug. 2, 1855.
• There are 2,767 enrolled members of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, many who live on the reservation, while others live throughout Michigan and the United States.
• The U.S. currently holds 642 acres in trust for the tribe; there are 723 acres held in restricted status for individual tribal members – land which cannot be sold without government approval.
• The Ziibiwing Center is open to the public for an educating experience in the rich culture, heritage and history of the Anishinabek people of the Great Lakes.

To learn about the tribe's relationship with Central Michigan University, visit the Web site "What it Means to be a Chippewa"

For more information on the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, click here.