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Bay Mills Indian Community


The Gnoozhekaaning at a Glance

To understand the Bay Mills Indian Community, we must look at their profound, enduring connection to the Great Lakes and their resilience in protecting their traditional ways of life.


  • Tribe Name: Bay Mills Indian Community. Their traditional Anishinaabe name is Gnoozhekaaning, which translates to "Place of the Pike."

  • Language: Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe).

  • Language Tree: Algonquian. This is one of the largest and most widespread Indigenous language families in North America.

  • Direct Relatives: The Bay Mills Indian Community is part of the larger Anishinaabe nation. They are closely related to the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, as well as other Ojibwe/Chippewa, Odawa, and Potawatomi bands across the Great Lakes region.

  • Enrollment: The tribe has a growing citizenship of over 2,000 enrolled members.

  • Land Ownership: The tribe currently stewards approximately 3,494 acres, with over 3,100 acres held in trust by the federal government.




Brief History

The history of the Bay Mills Indian Community is a powerful story of survival, adaptation, and fierce preservation along the shores of Lake Superior and the St. Marys River. For centuries, their ancestors thrived in the resource-rich environments of the eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan, sustained by hunting, gathering, and the abundant fisheries of the Great Lakes.

This prosperous way of life was challenged as European settlers and the United States government sought control over the region's land and waterways. Through the Treaty of Washington in 1836, the Ojibwe and Odawa bands ceded vast tracts of land in Michigan to the federal government. Despite intense pressures to assimilate and relocate, many tribal members refused to leave their ancestral homelands around Whitefish Bay and Tahquamenon Bay.


In the modern era, Bay Mills became a trailblazer for Indigenous self-determination. Following the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, they adopted their constitution in 1937, officially solidifying their modern government and securing a recognized land base. Today, Bay Mills is a thriving community. They operate the Bay Mills Resort & Casino, manage the first fully accredited tribal college in Michigan, and continuously invest in the cultural and economic well-being of their citizens.



Ancient Echoes: The Spirit of Gnoozhekaaning

The cultural foundation of the Bay Mills Indian Community is deeply embedded in the natural landscape, the water, and the teachings of their ancestors. Their traditional name, Gnoozhekaaning ("Place of the Pike"), speaks volumes about their historical reliance on the abundant fish populations in the Great Lakes.


Anishinaabe culture in Bay Mills is heavily guided by the Seven Grandfather Teachings: Gwayakwaadiziwin (Honesty), Debwewin (Truth), Inendizowin (Humility), Zaagi'idiwin (Love), Nibwaakaawin (Wisdom), Manaaji'idiwin (Respect), and Aakdewin (Bravery). These teachings ensure that the community lives in harmony with the environment and with one another.

The tribe is also a national leader in language revitalization. The Bay Mills Community College offers immersion programs and degrees in Anishinaabemowin instruction, working to ensure that the ancient language of their people continues to echo through the forests and along the shores of the Great Lakes for generations to come.




The Treaties and the Historic Fight for Fishing Rights

The legal history of the Bay Mills Indian Community is defined by their unyielding fight to preserve their treaty-protected right to fish the Great Lakes—a struggle that forever changed Native American rights in the United States.

When the ancestors of the Bay Mills community signed the Treaty of 1836, they explicitly reserved the right to hunt, fish, and gather on the ceded lands and waters. However, for over a century, the State of Michigan ignored these rights, arresting tribal members for fishing under traditional methods.

The turning point occurred in 1971 when Albert "Big Abe" LeBlanc, a member of the Bay Mills Indian Community, set a commercial gill net in Whitefish Bay. He was arrested by state authorities, sparking a monumental legal battle. This led to the landmark 1979 ruling in United States v. Michigan (often called the Fox Decision). Judge Noel Fox affirmed that the Bay Mills Indian Community and other 1836 Treaty tribes retained their absolute right to fish in the Great Lakes, free from state regulation. Judge Fox recognized that for the Anishinaabe, fishing was "the one most important single aspect of their lives." This profound victory revitalized the tribe’s traditional economy and solidified tribal sovereignty over natural resources.



Tribal Lands

The Bay Mills Indian Community currently stewards a land base of approximately 3,494 acres in the eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Their reservation lands are primarily divided into two distinct geographic areas within Chippewa County.


1. Bay Mills and Superior Townships (Primary Reservation)

  • Size: ~3.76 square miles.

  • Location: Northwest of Brimley, MI, along the shores of Lake Superior's Whitefish Bay.

  • Significance: This is the heart of the community. It houses the tribal government headquarters, primary residential neighborhoods, the Bay Mills Resort & Casino, and Bay Mills Community College.

2. Sugar Island Sector

  • Size: ~1.03 square miles (approx. 660 acres).

  • Location: Southeast of Sault Ste. Marie in the St. Marys River.

  • Significance: A historically rich and culturally significant area that was inhabited by the tribe's ancestors long before the arrival of Europeans. It remains a vital part of their tribal land holdings today.


Summary of Current Land Holdings

Parcel Location

Approximate Size

Primary Use

Bay Mills/Superior Townships

~3.76 Sq. Miles

Tribal Government, College, Housing, Resort & Casino

Sugar Island

~1.03 Sq. Miles

Cultural Conservation, Historical Significance



Learn More

🏛️ Museums & Cultural Centers

  • Bay Mills Community College Heritage Center: Located in Brimley, MI, this center is dedicated to the preservation of Anishinaabe history, arts, and crafts, serving as an educational hub for both students and visitors.

  • Museum of Ojibwa Culture (St. Ignace, MI): Offers insightful exhibits into the early lifeways, migration, and culture of the Ojibwe people in the Great Lakes region.

📚 Essential Books

  • "Ojibwe in Michigan" by Melissa A. Pflüg: A brief, informative overview of the rich history and vibrant contemporary lives of the Ojibwe people in Michigan.

  • "Lines Drawn upon the Water: First Nations and the Great Lakes Borders and Borderlands" by Karl S. Hele: Provides excellent context on how the Ojibwe negotiated borders and treaties in the Upper Peninsula.

🎥 Documentaries & Videos

  • "Bay Mills Indian Community" (American Indian Film Gallery): Archival footage capturing the community mid-century, highlighting Big Abe LeBlanc, his fisheries, and the tribe's relentless fight for their treaty rights.

  • "Waasa Inaabidaa - We Look In All Directions": A comprehensive documentary series covering the history, culture, and migration of the Anishinaabe-Ojibwe people of the Great Lakes.

🔗 Digital Resources & Links

  • Baymills.org: The official government website of the Bay Mills Indian Community, featuring resources on their cultural departments, tribal directory, and community services.

  • Bay Mills Community College (BMCC): Explore the community-driven educational programs, including Anishinaabe language degrees, offered by Michigan's first fully accredited tribal college.

  • Destination Bay Mills: An excellent resource for learning about the contemporary culture, annual pow wows, and community enterprises.


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