Did you know that the current Tribal seal that we use is actually a third version? Do you know what our Tribal seal symbolizes? For many, if not most of the membership, you probably do not know the meaning of our seal and never really gave it much thought. Below are the current and former seals for comparison:

1st Tribal Seal	2nd Tribal Seal	3rd Tribal Seal

Prior to the Tribe's federal reaffirmation and when the hard-working handful of our members were battling to become recognized, the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians quickly designed and utilized the first seal. The seal was also used by the small business, Ottawa Sign and Design, which was operated by several of our current members and of which often was our struggling Tribe's make-shift office.

In 1995 the Tribal newsletter asked for submissions of ideas for a new Tribal seal. In the summer of 1995 at a Membership picnic, the members present reviewed the recommended submissions and adopted the use of the second Tribal seal.

By comparing the current and former seals, you can see that the symbol of the river was retained. The river represents not only the Manistee River, which many local Tribal members identify with, but it also represents the fact that the Little River Ottawa historically were (and are) "riverine" people. We made our living primarily by hunting, fishing, and trapping along the major river systems (and tributaries) of western Michigan. These systems included the Manistee, Pere Marquette, Pentwater, White, Muskegon, Grand, Thornapple, and Kalamazoo Rivers. Our ancestors certainly fished the Great Lakes, but "the river" was our lifeblood. The symbols of the river and the land in our Tribal seal represent the natural environment which has sustained our people for thousands of years.

Two other significant symbols were added to the Tribal seal. They are the nine feathers and the four-color band that encircles the river and land. The nine feathers represent the nine Bands that constitute the historical Little River communities. All contemporary Tribal members descend from ancestors who were among one of those nine villages, or bands, that inhabited Manistee and Mason Counties after the 1855 Treaty of Detroit. The nine feathers also represent the nine chiefs, or Ogemuk, who were signatories to that last treaty with the U.S. government. It is in honor of and in memoriam to our ancestors of those nine Bands that are symbolized by the nine feathers.

The four-color band that encircles the river and land in our Tribal seal is symbolic of many things. It represents the four colors that are commonly recognized as sacred among the Tribes - red, black, white, and yellow. You will notice that the design inside the colored band juts into the yellow portion of the seal; this was done for a particular reason. The reasoning is that yellow symbolizes new beginnings and that is the direction in which the Tribe needs to look. As many people already know, these same four colors represent the four directions, the four seasons, and the four stages of life. It also represents the four races of humanity - to the extent that we can acknowledge that we are all related, not only spiritually, but also physically. The reality is that, today, we have Indian children and grandchildren who are multi-racial. Besides being of Indian or Ottawa (red) descent, we have relatives who are also of European (white) descent, of African (black) descent, and of Asian (yellow) descent. As we come to understand and accept this, we realize that we are all related after all.

The two flying eagles beside the tree symbolize the honor and respect that our people have come to recognize. The two adult eagles, one male and one female, represent balance and different strengths brought to the Tribe's families and community; the eagle brings our people's prayers to the Creator. Together, the eagles represent a pair, and that all animals and humanity as a pair bring forth life. The tree in the distance is a cedar tree which represents prosperity and peace.

The last symbolization is that of the entire seal being the shape of a circle. The circle represents harmony with nature and with all of our relatives. The circle stands for all things that are round in Creation, such as the sun and the moon. Mother Earth turns in a circle, the Anishinaabe dance in a circle, the birds make their nests in circles, and the four seasons and stages of life form a circle.

It wasn't until May 27, 1999 that the Tribal Council adopted the current wording seen on the seal. Of course as you already know, the significance of the September 21, 1994 date is that of when our Tribe was federally reaffirmed by the U.S. government.

The Tribal seal is protected by Tribal Ordinance therefore, no one but the Tribal government can use the seal. The use of the Tribal seal in arts and crafts, websites, and advertising, including facsimilies, reproductions or impressions, with or without the wording is strictly prohibited. The seal shall not be used for personal gain or profit, including merchandise offered for sale, or for any other commercial purpose. Anyone that violates the Ordinance is liable for a civil fine of up to $5,000 for each violation and jurisdiction over all violations involving the seal lie within the Tribal Court.

Did you know there was so much information contained in one little seal that we all see so often? Probably not, but now we hope that every time you see our Tribal seal, you won't just view it as a simple graphic, but you will recall the history and meaning behind it and be able to share it with others.