Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians

The Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians is a native sovereign nation based along the Grand River and other waterways in present-day Southwest Michigan, spanning the cities of Grand Rapids and Muskegon.

The Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians is a native sovereign nation with agreements with the federal government dating back to 1795.

The Grand River Bands originally included 19 bands of Ottawa people who lived along the Grand River and other waterways in southwest Michigan. Most of the Grand River Bands’ current membership resides in Kent, Muskegon and Oceana counties.

44th annual Homecoming of the Three Fires

Join our annual celebration June 13-14

Federal Recognition

The Grand River Bands have been working to gain federal recognition for nearly 30 years, and the lack of recognition has hindered the tribes’ ability to access resources.

News & Updates

Join us for the 44th annual Homecoming of the Three Fires

What: 44th annual Homecoming of the Three Fires When: 1-6 p.m. Saturday, June 13 and 12 p.m. on Sunday, June 14 Where: Riverside Park, 2001 Monroe Ave. NE, Grand Rapids

Ceremony held to bless Grand River before rapid restoration

A ceremony 18 years in the making took over the Gillett Bridge and banks of the Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids Monday, as city and state leaders celebrated the unique groundbreaking ceremony for the transformative project to restore the rapids. The project’s longtime architects placed the ceremonial first rocks into the river, after speeches aboard… Continue reading

With stones, not shovels, Grand Rapids begins effort to restore its namesake rapids

There were no golden shovels or dirt to turn Monday as community leaders gathered along the Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids for a ceremonial groundbreaking nearly two decades in the making. Instead, members of the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians blessed the water as leaders of the Restore the Rapids project waded in at… Continue reading