We recognize that we live and work on the ancestral and present-day homelands of the
Anishinaabek, including the Ojibwe (Chippewa), Odawa (Ottawa), and Bodéwadmi
(Potawatomi) Nations of the Three Fires Confederacy. These lands and waters have been cared
for by Indigenous peoples since time immemorial and remain the homelands of living Tribal
nations today.

In this region, we recognize the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, the Grand Traverse
Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians as Tribal
Nations connected to this place.

The treaties of this region, including the Treaty of 1836, are living agreements that continue to
shape the relationship between Tribal Nations and the United States. We acknowledge that this
history continues to inform how we live and work in this place.

As an organization committed to strengthening communities, protecting the environment, and
building equitable local solutions, we are committed to working in respectful partnership with

Tribal Nations. This includes building relationships through ongoing dialogue, engaging Tribal
perspectives where our work intersects with land, water, and community, supporting
Indigenous-led efforts aligned with our mission, and continuing to grow our understanding of
the history and present-day leadership of Tribal Nations in our region.

We undertake this work with humility and a shared responsibility to care for the lands and waters that sustain our communities.