We will be uploading academic articles, legal materials, and other documents on this page in conjunction with the Center’s ongoing project to collect materials related to the histories of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. These materials will, of course, include information about other tribes as well.
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Turtle Talk 
As I look over the issues being addressed and the efforts to address other conditions I see that we have many of the same battles we have had for a long time. One thing we need to remember is that “America” was created on our land. We are being led to speak as “Native Americans” and/or “American Indians,” when we come from beautiful, sovereign Tribal Nations. Many of our people call themselves Native Americans and members of the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians when we once were only known as the “Waganakising Odawak Nation.” When did we become protestants and catholics; republicans or democrats; army, navy or marines? Once upon a time it was good enough to be Waganakising Odawak….I still think it is good enough. We need to remember and enforce our identity and connection with our individual Tribal Nations rather than fall into the melting pot of “Americana” and forget where we all came from and who are grandfathers and grandmothers were. Seven generations ago in my ancestry there were no Europeans here. How our ancestors lived in those days and believed is in our DNA. We have not lost our identity, but in some of us who have been under the influence of western assimilation that identity and consciousness has become dormant. We are all working to bring healing and recovery from the impact of an invasion in our world where the intent in the beginning was to exterminate us and that intent changed to erasing our memory of what it means to be “Indian.” It is a good day to be Anishinaabe!!!!!!