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Native American Tribes of Michigan

Welcome to our Michigan State Facts section, part of an educational project designed to provide information about indigenous people in different U.S. states. Follow the links to the right of our tribal map for more information about the language, culture and history of each Michigan tribe, or scroll below the map for Michigan Indian activities including a wordsearch, fact sheets, and words from the Native American languages of Michigan. Feel free to print any of these materials out for classroom use!

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American Indians in Michigan

Did you know the name "Michigan" is an Algonquian Indian word? It means "big lake" and refers to Lake Michigan.

The original Algonquian-speaking inhabitants of the area that is now Michigan included:

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The Fox and Sauk tribes

The Kickapoo tribe

The Menominee tribe

The Miami tribe

The Ojibwe tribe (also known as Chippewa, Ojibway, or Ojibwa)

The Potawatomi tribe

Other Indian tribes that migrated into Michigan later included:

The Huron tribe (also known as the Wyandot)

The Ottawa tribe

There are eleven federally recognized Indian tribes in Michigan today.

Here are the addresses of Michigan's Indian reservations:

Michigan tribes today

1 Bay Mills Indian Community:
Rt 1 Box 313
Brimley, MI 49715
http://www.baymills.org/

2 Grand Traverse Band of
Ottawa and Chippewa Indians:
2605 NW Bayshore Dr
Suttons Bay, MI 49682
http://www.gtb.nsn.us/

3 Hannahville Indian Community:
N14911 Hannahville B1 Rd.
Wilson, MI 49896
http://www.hannahville.com/

4 Huron Potawatomi Nation:
2221 1-1/2 Mile Road
Fulton, MI 49052

5 Keweenaw Bay Indian Community:
795 Michigan Ave
Baraga, MI 49908
http://www.ojibwa.com/

6 Lac Vieux Desert Band of Chippewa:
PO Box 249, Choate Road
Watersmeet, MI 49969

7 Little River Bay Band of Ottawa Indians:
409 Water Street
Manistee, MI 49660

8 Little Traverse Bay Band of
Ottawa Indians:
PO Box 246
Petoskey, MI 49770
http://www.ltbbodawa-nsn.gov/

9 Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians:
714 N. Front St
Dowagiac, MI 49057
http://www.pokagon.com/

10 Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe:
7070 E. Broadway Road
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858
http://www.sagchip.org/

11 Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa:
532 Ashmun St
Sault Ste Marie, MI 49783
http://www.sootribe.org/

Teaching and learning activities about Michigan Native Americans:

Feel free to print these out to use at school!

Michigan Indian Tribes Word Search: Printable puzzle hiding the names of Michigan's Indian tribes.

Michigan Language Greetings: Learn to say "hello" in several Native Michigan languages.

Michigan Native Animals: Learn the Native American names of Michigan animals.

Michigan Indian Facts for Kids: Answers to frequently asked questions about the Indian tribes of Michigan.
We currently have pages for the Fox and Sauk, Kickapoo, Potawatomi, Miami, Menominee, Huron, Ojibwa and Ottawa tribes.

Recommended books about Michigan Native Americans
(Our organization earns a commission from any book bought through these links)

Rethinking Michigan Indian History: Good book about the history and culture of Michigan Indians.

Michigan Native Peoples: Introducing Michigan's Native American history and culture to kids.

Michigan Native Americans: Another simple book on Michigan tribes for kids.

Rites of Conquest: Michigan's Native Americans: Excellent book on the Anishinabe tribes of Michigan.

Aube Na Bing: A pictorial history of Michigan Indians.

Encyclopedia of Michigan Indians: Thorough reference book about the Native American tribes of Michigan.

The Crooked Tree: Indian Legends of Northern Michigan: Book of Michigan tribal folklore.

Indian Names in Michigan: The native etymology of present-day place-names in Michigan.

Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan: History of the Anishinabe tribes of Michigan state.

A Study of Some Michigan Indians: Anthropology text on the Native Americans of Michigan state.

Other resources about American Indian history, culture and society in Michigan state:

Michigan Reservations: Extensive profiles of the Michigan Indian tribes including culture, history, and contacts.