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Who We Are

The Burt Lake Band is federally recognized by treaty. Our ancestors were among those who signed the 1836 Treaty of Washington and the 1855 Treaty of Detroit. We, the descendants, are still here in Brutus, Michigan.

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Read Our History:

Discover our rich history through our published books. A Cloud Over The Land reveals the tragic story of the Burt Lake Band and the loss of our land in 1900, a pivotal moment in our history. Naagimiijedaa! (Let’s Find Food) serves as a valuable resource on Northern Michigan native plants, offering recipes and sharing some of our cherished tribal stories. Both books offer a deeper understanding of our heritage and the resilience of our people.

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Traditional Foods Project

Our band is exploring and learning about our history through traditional foods. This two-year project involves teachings from knowledgeable native instructors about topics such as spear-fishing, making maple syrup, using indigenous plants for food and medicine, and much more.

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Would you like to stay connected with the Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians? Join our quarterly newsletter to receive the latest updates on current events, fundraisers, captivating history articles, and more. We are eager to share with you and warmly invite you learn more about our vibrant community.

Recent Articles

We walk to honor our ancestors and memorialize the day in 1900 when the village on Chickigami Trail was burned to the ground and taken.  This unlawful act affected those living in the village that day and changed the course of the future for every descendent since...

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A Struggle For Justice

A Struggle For Justice

This podcast originally published on Points North. October 15, 1900 was a dark day for a small group of Native Americans near the tip of Michigan’s lower peninsula. It’s the day a group of white men burned their village to the ground, leaving many families homeless....

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