Anishnabek organization helps raise the level of social and economic considerations for Indian communities throughout the state by emphasizing unity

Julie Severn

10/2/2003 12:00:00 AM

A frontier consortium, which started out with several Indian communities, has grown to include a dozen federally recognized Tribes-a testament to its 35-year history of strength through unity within Indian Country.

The dedication, growth and sustainability of Michigan Inter-Tribal Council was reflected upon during the agency's open house on June 26 in Sault Ste. Marie.

"It was the desire of the ITC founders to conserve common property, develop resources, promote the welfare of the participating member Tribes and to negotiate with the federal, state and local governments on all matters involved with the concept of improving the socio-economic status of Michigan Indians," explained ITC Executive Director Sharon Teeple.

"In the mid-1960s, Michigan Indian Country was living in extreme poverty, with high rates of unemployment, poor housing conditions, and few adequate health services," she said. "Our agency was created out of financial necessity."

The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan, Bay Mills Indian Community, Hannahville Indian Community and Keweenaw Bay Indian Community were the original founding member Tribes.

"They knew that the forming of ITC would allow a beginning for these small Tribal communities to work in collaboration as a catalyst for change," Teeple said. "The four Tribes were so small in population that the founding of an organization combining all the numbers could generate more fundable programs for much needed delivery of services to our Tribal members."

As the partnership evolved, so did the quality of services available to the communities.

For many years, ITC operated under the guidance and direction of the founding four Tribes, as well as the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Lac Vieux Desert Indian Community and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians.

"The larger Tribes always maintained their independence operating as many programs under their own umbrella as possible. As the smaller Tribes became more organized developing their infrastructures and gaining in population, they began operating more of their own Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Service programs," stated Teeple. "They remembered our Nanabozho teaching, �All your strength is in your union; All your danger is in discord.'"

Teeple credited ITC's success to the self-determination of its members.

"Today, all the Indian Tribes that are members of the Inter-Tribal Council operate the majority of initial programs that were once housed at ITC as self-governance began to bear fruition," she added. "Eventually all membership Tribes came to realize if you aim low there is no place to go. No one rises to low expectations."

ITC maintains some of its original programming, but continually explores new opportunities to expand and improve upon the lifestyles of today's American Indians. Taking innovative approaches to serving Tribal members has led to the inception of such programs as Healthy Start, Helping Hands and Families First.

"We face new challenges with new Tribes and staff, but we must continue to form trusting relationships with significant input from the older Tribes as we strive to meet each communities' various needs in different levels of programming," Teeple also said.