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The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians

History and culture

leelanau-county grand-traverse-band indigenous-history

The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians has called this corner of Michigan home for a very long time. In the 1830s, six Ottawa and Chippewa bands were living in the Grand Traverse region.

Getting federal recognition proved to be a long, uphill fight. The tribe applied in 1934 and was turned down. They tried again in 1943 — and were turned down again. The third effort finally made it through: on May 27, 1980, the federal government formally re-recognized the Grand Traverse Band. Today the tribe’s service area stretches across six Michigan counties.

Sources

Last reviewed against the listed sources: June 7, 2026.

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Suttons Bay Township Leelanau County

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