Council members represent the tribe's five units throughout seven counties in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

The Sault Tribe operates its own government, with regular elections for chairperson and council members. The tribe's revenues from its Kewadin Casinos has enabled it to establish health centers and invest in education for its members. In 1979 the tribal council included the Mackinac Band as members, nearly doubling its enrollment. It was recognized in 1972 with five units in seven counties. The Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians is the largest federally recognized tribe in Michigan, outnumbering the next largest tribe, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, by a scale of about 10 to one. Bawating, sometimes seen written as Baawiting or Bahweting, is an Ojibwe word meaning 'The Gathering Place.' The Chippewa participated in trading with other tribes, and later with the French, British and American traders here in turn. Originally a part of the homelands of the Oc̣eṭi Ṡakowiƞ (Dakota, Lakota, Nakoda, or Sioux), who were pushed westward by the Anishinaabe Migration from the east coast, this location became known as Bawating by the Anishinaabe (the Ojibwe or Chippewa), who arrived there shortly before Europeans showed up in the mid-to-late 16th century. Marie, the major city in the region, which is located on the St. The tribal headquarters is located within Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians (pronounced 'Soo Saint Marie', Ojibwe: Baawiting Anishinaabeg), commonly shortened to Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians or the more colloquial Soo Tribe, is a federally recognized Native American tribe in what is now known as Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Indian casinos upper michigan