Bay Mills Community College partners with Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians

Bay Mills Community College has received a donation from the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians in the amount of $10,000 that will help enhance cultural activities that celebrate Anishnaabeg culture, as well as provide educational and gathering opportunities. The two tribal institutions will collaborate to strengthen education opportunities and pathways for Native students.

According to an article on Bay Mills Community College’s website, Robert McRorie, who is the Unit 1 Director with the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, was quoted as saying of the partnership, “When two Sovereign Nations are located in such close proximity to one another, there will undoubtedly be a level of competition as well as areas of contention. However, there are also endless opportunities for positive, productive, and mutually beneficial collaborative efforts, especially when it comes to culture and Indigenous education. We are proud and honored to support Bay Mills Community College in this capacity.”

The funding from the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians will allow Bay Mills Community College to provide federally recognized tribal members and first-generation descendants with opportunities for free tuition. It will also enhance cultural activities that celebrate Anishnaabeg culture, which the college views as not supplemental, but integral to a student’s success at the college.

There are currently 232 Sault Tribe members enrolled at Bay Mills Community College, which represents nearly 25% of the student population. Since 2000, the college has served more than 2,000 Sault Tribe members. 

Candice LeBlanc, who is the former Director of Institutional Advancement at Bay Mills Community College, said, “Sault Tribe’s investment reinforces something we see every day. When students are supported as whole people and feel connected to their culture, they are more confident, more engaged, and more likely to succeed. This partnership helps ensure our students do not have to choose between education and identity.”

For more information about Bay Mills Community College, visit the school's website.