Our Mission and Purpose
DeMawating Development is a property management company organized as an economic enterprise under the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians (The Sault Tribe). Our purpose is to generate income and employment opportunities consistent with the tribe’s goal of self-sufficiency.
The Sault Tribe
The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians is a modern expression of the Anishinabeg who lived in this region of the Great Lakes for more than 500 years. The roots of the Tribe’s modern government extend to the 1940s, when a group of Sugar Island residents gathered to talk about their common history. At first, these gatherings were small – no more than two or three residents sharing thoughts over coffee in the kitchen of a neighbor’s home. Over time, as discussions turned to action plans, the meetings grew larger and more formal.
Today, the Tribe is a fully recognized Indian community with 44,000 enrolled members living throughout Michigan and the United States. Its sovereign status is recognized by Michigan, the U.S. government, and Canada. The Tribe operates under a Constitution and Bylaws approved in November 1975 by the Secretary of Interior.