Category: In The News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
DATE: Thursday, June 2, 2023

Event celebrates rich culture of West Michigan tribes 

GRAND RAPIDS – The Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians are hosting the 41st annual Homecoming of the Three Fires gathering June 10-11. 

The Homecoming of the Three Fires is an annual celebration held at Riverside Park, 2001 Monroe Ave. NE in Grand Rapids, which features two days of traditional Native American music, dancing, art and food.  

The Homecoming event has been suspended for three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Grand River Bands are excited to return. 

Everyone is welcome to attend the event, which runs from 1 p.m. until dusk on Saturday, June 10, and noon through late afternoon on Sunday, June 11. Admission is free. Event sessions begin with Grand Entries at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday, and at noon on Sunday. 

“We always look forward to this annual event where our tribes can gather and celebrate our traditions together,” said Ron Yob, Chairman of the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians. “The Homecoming also offers the community a chance to learn about our traditions and culture through dancing, music and Native American food and art vendors.” 

The event is co-sponsored by the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of the Pottawatomi Indians/Gun Lake Tribe and the City of Grand Rapids Office of Special Events and Office of Equity and Engagement. The event serves as a gathering in which the tribes will sing, dance and celebrate their culture.  

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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. 

DATE: Friday, May 5, 2023

LANSING – The Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians are continuing to advocate for their long overdue federal recognition and have enlisted the support of professional historians and other experts to make their case to the U.S. Department of the Interior. 

“The Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians continues to work with the U.S. Department of Interior to provide additional information on our petition for federal recognition,” said Ron Yob, chairman of the Grand River Bands.  

Since the U.S. Department of the Interior issued its proposed findings in February, Yob and other tribal members have been poring over historic documentation of the tribe’s long history in West Michigan. The Grand River Bands has agreements with the federal government dating back to 1795, and is a state recognized tribe. The Grand River Bands have formally asked for a technical assistance meeting with the Department of the Interior to discuss the proposed findings and provide additional information. 

“The U.S. Department of the Interior has continuously reached out to support our efforts and we have been compiling documentation that shows our long history as a distinct political community,” Yob said. “We are so thankful for the numerous lawmakers, other tribes, business groups, community organizations and West Michigan residents who continue to advocate for our recognition. We remain confident we will ultimately achieve the long overdue federal recognition for our tribal members and be able to provide long-awaited justice to our members.” 

For more information on the Grand River Bands and a list of supporters of their recognition, visit grandriverbands.com.  

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The Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians is a native sovereign nation recognized by the state of Michigan 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. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
DATE: Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023 
CONTACT: Sydney Smith, Byrum & Fisk Advocacy Communications, ssmith@byrumfisk.com, 586-212-3103 

LANSING – The Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians pledged to continue their advocacy for federal recognition and address additional information requested by the U.S. Department of the Interior. 

“While we disagree with the U.S. Department of the Interior’s initial findings on our petition, we are confident we can provide the additional information requested and ultimately achieve the long overdue federal recognition for our tribal members,” said Ron Yob, chairman of the Grand River Bands. “The Grand River Bands has a long history in Michigan, with agreements with the federal government dating back to 1795, and we are a state recognized tribe. We have support from numerous lawmakers, including Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, other tribes, business groups, community organizations and West Michigan residents who have and continue to advocate alongside us, and we remain confident we will be granted federal recognition and be able to provide justice and critical resources for our members.” 

The Grand River Bands have advocated for their federal recognition for nearly three decades. Federal recognition would allow tribal members to access critical resources such as tuition, health care and housing assistance, among many others.
 

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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. 

Snow Snake Competition takes place during World of Winter

GRAND RAPIDS – The Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians is partnering with Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. for a fun, engaging competition in a 500-year-old traditional game.

Part of the World of Winter festival in downtown Grand Rapids, beginning at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 5, at Sixth Street Park, the Great Lakes Snow Snake Competition will involve throwing handmade, wooden “snakes” through a snow track to see who can send theirs the farthest.

Snow snake is a traditional Native American winter sport that has been played by many tribes in the Great Lakes region. Snow snakes are made from carved pieces of wood.

“The Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians is excited to bring this traditional game to World of Winter,” said Ron Yob, chairman of the Grand River Bands. “We invite the West Michigan community to experience part of our culture, learn a new game and join in the fun.”

Participants must construct their own snake to compete and practice snakes will be available for all to try. Tribal members from around the state are planning to attend and compete in the event, making it a fun spectator opportunity for those just looking to watch.

Registration for the Snow Snake Competition is free and begins at 11 a.m. The winning individual will earn a prize of $500. For more information, view the Facebook event page.

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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.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
DATE: Thursday, June 30, 2022

Rights to health care, housing and education assistance are among those provided to the tribe with federal recognition 

LANSING, Mich. – The Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians is applauding the Michigan Senate for approving a resolution urging the U.S. Department of the Interior to approve the tribe’s petition for federal recognition. 

Introduced by Sen. Mark Huizenga, R-Walker, Senate Resolution 151 states that federal recognition is needed to provide Grand River Bands members rights to health care, housing and education assistance, as well as other resources, that are provided to federally recognized tribes. 

“We are thankful to Sen. Huizenga for supporting our tribe and honoring our deep roots here in West Michigan,” said Ron Yob, chairman of the Grand River Bands. “We are grateful to the Michigan Senate for approving this important resolution and we continue to urge federal officials to approve our petition as soon as possible.” 

The tribe’s petition has been on the “active consideration list” since 2013, and the petition was awaiting a final review, the last step in the process, before COVID-19 caused a delay. The U.S. Department of the Interior has said it will issue a decision on the tribe’s recognition by Oct. 15. 

The Senate resolution comes after Rep. David LaGrand introduced a similar resolution in the Michigan House of Representatives encouraging the U.S. Department of the Interior to approve the Grand River Bands’ petition. 

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