COVID-19 in Indian Country
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Chairperson Aaron Payment and Board of Directors have endorsed the establishment of a COVID-19 Task Force.

The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians has received $37.2 million from the Coronavirus Relief Fund.

The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians has continued to support and care for its many tribal members and team members, keeping pay and essential services in place since the March 23 closure due to COVID-19.

The Sault Tribe’s government extended its temporary closure of all governmental offices, with a planned reopen date of May 3, 2020.

A tribal college enterprise in Michigan is producing and distributing personal protective equipment face shields.

Kewadin Casinos has been closely monitoring the recommendations of public health officials as it relates to Coronavirus (COVID19).

Bay Mills Resort & Casinos has announced that casino operations will remain closed until at least the end of April.

The CARES Act provides $8B in critical assistance for tribal governments.

In a video message on March 24, 2020, Chief Tim J. Davis and Sub-Chief Joe Kequom of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe provided an update on COVID-19 prevention efforts. The tribe is closing all non-essential services from March 23 through April 3 in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus in Michigan. Essential services, such as […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 23, 2020   Tribe’s emergency plan in line with Governor Whitmer’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order   SAULT STE. MARIE. Mich. —Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Executive Order directing all Michigan businesses and operations to suspend in-person operations that are not necessary to sustain or […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 20, 2020 Extension of Closure at Gun Lake Casino for the Health and Safety of Guests and Team Members. Team Members to continue receiving full compensation. (Wayland, Mich.) – To protect the wellbeing of all Gun Lake Casino guests and team members, the voluntary short-term closure, originally scheduled to end on March […]

Bryan Newland, the president of the Bay Mills Indian Community, posted a social media thread about coronavirus testing in tribal communities. He said the Indian Health Service has failed to live up to promises about testing being readily available to tribal nations. As of Thursday, March 19, 2020, the IHS had facilitated testing for more […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 19, 2020 THE POKAGON BAND DONATES NINE PALLETS OF FOOD FROM ITS FOUR WINDS CASINOS TO FEED THOSE IN NEED Food will be distributed throughout Southwest Michigan and Northern Indiana by Feeding America and Cultivate DOWAGIAC, Mich. – March 19, 2020 – The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi have donated nine pallets […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 03-19-2020 Sault Tribe declares state of emergency SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. — The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Board of Directors and Gaming Authority each declared a state of emergency at special meetings March 17, due to the spread of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. The state of emergency is […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 17, 2020 Kewadin Casinos temporarily closes in continued response to COVID-19 SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. — In a continued effort to prevent the spread of Coronavirus (COVID19), Kewadin Casinos will be temporarily closing all five Kewadin Casinos, located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Kewadin Casinos has been closely monitoring the situation and […]