Join us at the fifth annual Great Lakes Tribal Economic Summit, October 6–7, 2026, at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. This two-day event brings together tribal leaders, council members, tribal government officials and executives from tribal enterprises in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

We’re shaping this year’s Great Lakes Tribal Economic Summit around what it takes to build and finance tribal economies right now — how deals come together, get funded and how tribes are structuring growth. The agenda will cover Native finance, housing development, healthcare, energy and tribal taxation, along with practical tools like Section 105(l) leasing and real-world examples. It’s designed for tribal leaders and enterprise executives, as well as the bankers, attorneys, policymakers and partners working alongside them.

We’ll also include sessions on data centers, AI, workforce development and drones — focused on how these sectors are emerging in tribal communities. Policy updates will track what’s happening in Washington — across federal agencies and Congress — and what it means for tribal economies, projects and decision-making.

The goal is straightforward: give tribal leaders and partners clear, usable information they can act on — and create space to interact directly with the people leading change across the tribal economy.

LOCATION

Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort

Black River & Swan Creek Meeting Rooms

6800 Soaring Eagle Blvd

Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 

HOTEL RESERVATIONS

We’re excited to offer a discount hotel room block for this event. Please follow these instructions to reserve a room: 

  • Visit soaringeaglecasino.com
  • Select Book Stay, and enter the group code GLTES100626. If you’d rather book by phone, call 877‑232‑4532 and share the group code with our team.
  • This exclusive group rate is guaranteed through Monday, September 21, 2026.
  • Call 877-232-4532, for reservation questions, and refer to the group code GLTES100626.
SUMMIT AGENDA (download PDF) 

DAY 1: Tuesday,  October 6, 11:00 am – 6:30 pm

Registration – 11:30 am

Sessions – 1:00 pm – 4:45 pm

Evening Reception – 5:00 pm – 6:30pm, cocktail hour with heavy hors d’oeuvres  

DAY 2: Wednesday, October 7, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm

Continental breakfast – 7:30 am – 9:00 am

Session – 8:30 am – Noon

Lunch – Noon 

Session + Closing – 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

TRAVEL

Gerald R. Ford International Airport – 1 hour 46 minutes

MBS International Airport – 48 minutes

Join us for this impactful summit. Secure your sponsorship today!  

Contact Events at rich@indiancountrymedia.com

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! 

PLATINUM PLUS SPONSOR

PLATINUM SPONSORS

 

 

  

SILVER SPONSORS

Oweesta Corporation 

MNO Bmadsen Logo JPG
WMU primary digital
Enbridge Logo

 

BRONZE SPONSORS

huurav Text Only Blue

Gun Lake Investment Firm; Investing In The People Behind The Business | Gun  Lake Investments 

Huntington Primary Logo Horizontal RGB Green

PrimaryLockup Horizontal CPNRed
image001

 

TOTE BAG SPONSOR

LUNCH SPONSOR

JCF - Justice Climate Fund

COFFEE BREAK SPONSOR

OpenBet | Michigan's FireKeepers Casino Launches Retail Sports…

BREAKFAST SPONSOR

REVISED Peebles Bergin Logo BLUE