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The Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, historically known as Gete-gitigaaning in the Anishinaabe language, is one of Michigan’s 12 federally recognized tribes. Located in the state’s Upper Peninsula town of Watersmeet, the Lac Vieux Desert Band has been making waves as a force for economic development in recent years. With support from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), the tribe is showcasing what can be accomplished with a vision for the future, staying true to historic culture, and engaging in community and economic support outreach.
In 2015, the Lac Vieux Desert Health Center opened in Watersmeet. It was a landmark project not only for the tribe, but for the surrounding communities where healthcare services are limited. The health center has been so successful that a 9,080 sq. ft. expansion to add a wellness facility is underway, complementing existing primary care, behavioral health, dental, optical, pharmacy, chiropractic, physical therapy, ancillary, and other tertiary services. The wellness expansion focuses on preventative health, musculoskeletal therapy, and rehabilitative services and introduces new services like personal training, fitness classes, massage therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy alongside a full-service fitness center.
The Lac Vieux Desert Health Center meets foundational needs for the community today, but it’s also an investment in the future. “In the long term, we hope that a facility like this will increase the overall health of the community and reduce the need for doctors’ visits and the like, which will bring down overall costs,” says Patrick Garrison, Treasurer and member of the Executive Tribal Council for the Lac Vieux Desert Band. Garrison also hopes that core services like healthcare will attract new residents to the area and encourage part-time residents to become full-time.
Projects like the health center illustrate the tribe’s commitment to long-term investments that benefit the community’s health, economic vitality, and overall quality of life. As the health center expansion is set to be completed in 2026, the Lac Vieux Desert Band is making progress on other economic development endeavors with the big picture in mind. With support from the MEDC, the tribe is undertaking a feasibility study to explore the best options for a set of properties it owns at a highway intersection near Watersmeet. The Lac Vieux Desert Band is weighing various business opportunities carefully, taking into account which would fill the greatest need and be the best fit for the community, the space, and its current workforce.
“Throughout the process, we’re asking, ‘What’s the best use of the land?’ We need to make sure that while we’re expanding our land base, we're also supporting the things that attract people to this area,” says Garrison.
In addition to the feasibility study, the Lac Vieux Desert Band is building a strategic economic development plan supported by the MEDC that would outline goals and steps to grow the community’s economy, attract investment, and improve quality of life over the long term.
“These documents will really help us focus on what we want to do, identify opportunities, and support a unified vision for our organization as a whole.”
Prior to the feasibility study and strategic plan, the Lac Vieux Desert Band was awarded funds by the MEDC for a grant writer who has spent the past four years helping the tribe find opportunities for economic development.
“She was a big part of our Climate Pollution Reduction grant and the America the Beautiful Challenge grant, which allowed us to establish a natural resources department and director, among other grants,” explains Garrison. “These are incredibly welcomed blessings to our community. Being awarded that grant has been a cornerstone of our forward momentum, and I can’t be more grateful that we received it. She’s helped us pull in millions of dollars, and without her, I don’t believe that would’ve been possible.”
Both the Climate Pollution Reduction grant and the America the Beautiful Challenge grant support the Lac Vieux Desert Band’s goal of proper environmental stewardship and net-zero emissions by 2050.
“Our first goal is to maximize the footprint and sustainable use of tribally owned lands and resources, and the second is to prioritize profitable and growing enterprises that support the financial and cultural sustainability of the tribe,” Garrison outlines. In addition, the Lac Vieux Desert Band’s economic development goals include workforce development efforts and ensuring collaboration with economic development partners.
The Lac Vieux Desert Band’s economic development progress positions its community well for the future, but they aren’t leaving behind their past. Even at their cutting-edge health center, traditions are honored.
“One thing that’s critical to our cultural experience and knowledge is allowing traditional healing methods and recovery services at our health center,” says Garrison. “We want to ensure that we have a continued focus and raise awareness so our methods of healing are recognized.”
The traditions of the Lac Vieux Desert Band are intertwined with the community, and the tribe is making a concerted effort to educate future generations and preserve the knowledge of their elders.
“We put a lot of emphasis on our tribal historic preservation and cultural revitalization program, which includes language classes, treaty education, traditional ceremonies, and practices throughout the year,” says Garrison. “We also do a lot to support our tribal elders. We do what we can financially, but we also have programs where we take care of their trash, do day-to-day maintenance of their property, and ensure they have a place to pass along their stories and traditional knowledge.”
The Lac Vieux Desert Band’s Historic Preservation Office’s Cultural Revitalization Program also offers education on specific traditions and invaluable skills.
“We hold classes where students can learn how to make lacrosse sticks, bead regalia, make moccasins, tan hides, pick wild rice without disturbing the rice beds, and pay tribute to our ancestors and Mother Earth,” says Garrison. “We teach all the ways that people can implement these practices into their daily lives.”
The tribe has even partnered with the Watersmeet School District to develop initiatives that integrate traditional teachings to help everyone in the community and within the school system gain a better understanding of one another.
As the Lac Vieux Desert Band’s economic progress fuels its cultural preservation and its culture informs economic progress, it’s clear that the Band has struck a powerful balance that grounds each new enterprise in respect for land, traditions, and community well-being.
To learn more about the MEDC and its tribal partners, visit https://www.michiganbusiness.org/about-medc/tribal-partners/