Aaron Payment serves as chairperson of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Photo by Kevin Abourezk/Indianz.Com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16, 2021
Tribe Approves COVID-19 Rescue Act Membership Assistance Program
SAULT STE. MARIE, Michigan — On June 15, 2021, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Board of Directors voted to establish the COVID-19 Rescue Act Membership Assistance Program protect the health and welfare of the Tribal membership and ensure reasonable resources are available to respond to negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The Tribe’s COVID-19 Rescue Act Membership Assistance Program is established as a new program specifically designed to address the opportunity to distribute COVID-19 relief funds received by the Tribe under the American Rescue Plan Act, a separate act of federal legislation.
Following legal guidance and the Department of Treasury’s published guidance to date, the COVID-19 Rescue Act Membership Assistance Program establishes assistance grants in the amount of $2,000 for Tribal members whocan demonstrate they have been impacted by COVID-19.
Assistance grants made under the Program are to be exclusively used to meet reasonable or necessary expenses which are incurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible expenses shall include, but are not limited to, medical, housing, health related goods or services, food, transportation for medical appointments, funeral costs, and similar expenses.
A COVID-19 Rescue Act Membership Assistance Program application form must be completed by each Tribal member in order to be eligible to receive potential