Genealogy

Know Your Roots

Understanding where you come from is one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself and your family. The records exist — most members just don’t know how to find them.

The Durant Roll

The Durant Roll is one of the most important documents for Sault Tribe and Mackinac Band descendants. Compiled in the early 1900s it lists enrolled members and their family connections. If your family has roots in the Eastern Upper Peninsula this is where to start.

The 1836 and 1855 Treaties of Washington

These treaties identify the Anishinaabe bands who ceded territory and their members. If your ancestry connects to the Lake Superior or Lake Huron shoreline these documents may contain your family.

How to Start Your Research

Start with what you know — names, locations, approximate birth years. Then work backward using Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, and the National Archives tribal records collection.

How to Search Your Sault Tribe Genealogy

Tracing your roots is a journey of discovery. To become a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, you must prove a direct “lineal descent” from an ancestor listed on the 1908 Durant Roll specifically under the Sault Ste. Marie Band.

Follow this step-by-step guide to find your ancestors and connect with your heritage.

Step 1: Gather Your “Home Sources”

Before searching historical records, you must build your “Paper Trail.” You need state-certified birth certificates for every person in the chain between you and your target ancestor.

  • The Chain: You $\rightarrow$ Parent $\rightarrow$ Grandparent $\rightarrow$ Great-Grandparent.
  • Target: Identify the relative who would have been alive between 1907 and 1910. This is the person you will look for on the Durant Roll.

Step 2: Search the Durant Roll (Sault Band)

The Durant Roll is the “Base Roll” for the Sault Tribe. It is organized by Band. You must find an ancestor listed under the Sault Ste. Marie Band (not the Mackinac, St. Ignace, or Garden River bands).

  • Search the Index: Visit the MIGenWeb Sault Band Surname Index.
  • Filter for Sault Band: Look for the specific “Band” column. Only ancestors listed as “Sault Ste. Marie” qualify you for Sault Tribe membership.
  • The Identification Number: When you find a name, write down the numbers next to it (e.g., 10-38).
    • The first number is the Page Number on the 1870 Annuity Roll.
    • The second number is the Line Number on that page.

Step 3: Access the Digital Field Notes

If the index lists your ancestor, the “Field Notes” provide the deep substance. These handwritten notes by Horace Durant often list parents, spouses, and children, helping you confirm you have the right person.

  • FamilySearch (Free Resource): Access the digitized microfilm M2039 – Horace Durant Field Notes.
  • What to Look For: Sault Band entries typically appear in the first 25 pages of the roll. Look for handwritten descriptions of family groups and locations (like “Sugar Island” or “Sault Ste. Marie”).

Step 4: Locate Vital Records

If you hit a wall in your tree, use these archives to find birth, marriage, and death records for ancestors living in the Upper Peninsula.

Genealogy Resource Directory

ResourcePurposeDirect Link
Durant SearchQuick Name CheckSault Band Index
BIA ArchivesTechnical RecordsNARA Michigan Agency
Enrollment FormsOfficial ApplicationSault Tribe Enrollment Page
Historical DataLibrary ResearchClarke Historical Library

Ready to Apply?

Once you have your chain of birth certificates and your ancestor’s Durant Roll information:

  1. Download the 2024 Adult Enrollment Application.
  2. Include the $50 Processing Fee (Non-refundable).
  3. Submit to the Enrollment Office: * Address: 800 Capitol Way, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783
    • Phone: 800-251-6597

Site Tip: Are you stuck? Check our [Facebook Page] and share your family surnames! Our community is full of members who have successfully navigated the Durant Roll and are ready to help.

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