The Saginaw Chippewa Tribe, Soaring Eagle, and Ziibiwing

Mount Pleasant is the home of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan. The Tribe is one of the most important presences in the area. It’s a sovereign nation, a major employer, and a vibrant living culture. The Tribe owns and runs the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, which opened in 1998. It has grown into one of the region’s biggest entertainment draws. There’s a hotel, a waterpark, and an outdoor arena that books big-name summer concerts.

Nearby, the Tribe created the Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture & Lifeways. It’s often called the Midwest’s premier Native American museum. Its centerpiece exhibit is “Diba Jimooyung” — “Telling Our Story” in the Anishinaabe language. It shares the history, culture, and living traditions of the Saginaw Chippewa and the wider Great Lakes Anishinabek. And it tells that story in their own words. Central Michigan University’s teams are the Chippewas. The school has worked with the Tribe for a long time.

For newcomers, the Tribe is a neighbor well worth getting to know. It’s central to what makes Mount Pleasant what it is.