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.
It’s also the event that led to the Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians losing their identity in the eyes of the federal government.
For more than a century, the Band has been trying to get that recognition back. Federal recognition unlocks money for healthcare, education, and the preservation of culture and history. But the odds aren’t stacked in their favor.
CREDITS:
Producer: Michael Livingston
Host: Daniel Wanschura
Editor: Morgan Springer
Additional Editing: Ellie Katz, Dan Wanschura
Music: Slimheart, Four Count, Dusky, At Our Ease, Tapoco Critter, Tessie’s Ranch by Blue Dot Sessions