The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians in Michigan is losing $1.7 million as a result of the sequestration of the federal budget.

Chairman Aaron Payment said the tribe is entitled to health, education, welfare and other programs under its treaties. But the sequester, with its across the board cuts, doesn't account for the federal government's obligations.

“We paid for these critically important services through 21,621 square miles of land cessions in 1836 that allowed the Michigan territory to become a state just a year later,” Payment told The Soo Evening News.

The tribe is making some changes to address the shortfall, Payment said.

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Sequestration hits Sault Tribe hard (The Soo Evening News 4/3)