A member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians has been appointed to the Michigan Native American Heritage Fund board.
Elizabeth Kinnart with the Soo tribe was appointed this month as a Heritage fund board member.
“The goal of the Heritage Fund board is basically a collaboration with the Nottawaseppi tribe,” Kinnart said. “It’s basically for us to come together to determine where these grants and where these funds will be distributed throughout the year.”
The board is responsible for providing grants to promote positive relationships between the Nottawaseppi Huron band of Potawotami and schools and local governments.
Kinnart says she hopes the Heritage board’s efforts will bring awareness to Native American Heritage.
“I have a lot of family members who come from the Native American heritage. My father is Native American, my grandmother is 100% Native American,” she said. “I just want people to come to terms with what the Native American heritage is and I’m hoping to bring awareness with that.”
Kinnart says her position will be a way for her to follow her father’s footsteps and to honor her late grandmother.