Sault Ste. Marie Indian Agency (Michigan)

Indian Tribes Associated With This Agency
Primarily Chippewa and Ottawa

History
The Sault Ste. Marie Agency was established in 1822 and was located at the falls (sault) of the St. Mary's River in northern Michigan. It was consolidated with the Mackinac Agency in 1832. From that combined agency came the Crow Wing Subagency in 1835, which was established for the Chippewa of the Mississippi, and the La Pointe Subagency, which was established for the Chippewa of Lake Superior.

In 1837, a separate Sault Ste. Marie Subagency was established to cover the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to the eastern border of Wisconsin. This subagency was discontinued on 30 June 1852 and its duties were assigned to the Mackinac Agency.

Agents and Appointment Dates
Henry R. Schoolcraft 1822, Brt. Maj. W. V. Cobbs 1834, James Ord 1837, David Aitken 1850

Records
Agencies and subagencies were created as administrative offices of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and its predecessors. Their purpose was (and is) to manage Indian affairs with the tribes, to enforce policies, and to assist in maintaining the peace. The names and location of these agencies may have changed, but their purpose remained basically the same. Many of the records of genealogical value (for the tribe and tribal members) were created by and maintained by the agencies.

Letters received by the Office of Indian Affairs from the Sault Ste. Marie Agency, 1824-1852, have been microfilmed by the National Archives as part of their Microcopy Number M234, rolls 770-771. Copies are available at the National Archives and at the Family History Library and its family history centers (their ).