Sault Tribe Business Alliance

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Sault Tribe Business Alliance

STBA Is Dedicated To Serving And Supporting The Success Of Sault Tribe Member-owned Businesses.

11/21/2025

Our work at the Sault Tribe Business Alliance is rooted in one truth:

Native-owned businesses are powerful — and when we support each other, we all rise.

STBA was founded because Native entrepreneurs are often few in number, working in isolation, and navigating unique challenges. By coming together, we reclaim an ancient way of doing business: connection over competition, community over isolation.

Our mission is to:
• Uplift Sault Tribe entrepreneurs
• Create opportunities for growth
• Strengthen our business network
• Build economic sovereignty for future generations

Whether you’re a current member, a prospective member, or someone cheering from the side — thank you for believing in this work.

Our next chapter is just beginning.
Join us at https://www.stballiance.org

11/14/2025

🎤 Tickets Are Now Live for IndigiPitch — Come Support Our THREE Sault Tribe Entrepreneurs- They need us in the audience cheering them on!

Tickets are free, but seats fill fast — reserve yours today:
👉 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/indigipitch-tickets-1757743641549

IndigiPitch is a high-energy, culturally grounded pitch competition showcasing Native American innovators from across Michigan. Attendees can expect a welcoming, inspiring evening where Native businesses and culture take center stage.

🌟 Representing the Sault Tribe on stage this year:
• Fitz Doud | Deter – Presenting a palm-sized autonomous safety micro-drone designed to interrupt threats before contact.

• Leah Blanchard | Little Agate – Offering an accessible cloth-diaper education program and new/used diaper offerings to reduce waste and empower families.

• A Court of Rain and Revelry (Amber Kilgore, Gina Stegehuis, & Yarrow Young) – Bringing storybook experiences to life through luxurious, immersive events centered on creativity and wonder.

🏆 Entrepreneurs will compete for three awards:
1st Place: $5,000 | 2nd Place: $2,000 | Audience Favorite: $500

📅 Event Details:
When: Friday, Dec. 5th at 5:30 PM
Where: Odawa Casino, Petoskey
Who: Open to the public — all are welcome to come support and celebrate Native entrepreneurship

This event is presented by 20Fathoms , a nonprofit based in Traverse City supporting entrepreneurs across Northwest Lower Michigan. Their programming includes Indigenous Business & Marketing Essentials, one-on-one coaching, a startup bootcamp, and capital-access support — all designed to uplift and expand the region’s Native business ecosystem.

✨ Let’s show up, fill the room, and uplift our Sault Tribe innovators.

11/13/2025

We’re continuing our call for new STBA Board Members!

Our team will be reviewing applications at our next board meeting, where we’ll make decisions and extend invitations to join the board.

Applications are open through the end of November, and we’d especially love to hear from members with experience in law, accounting, and event planning as we round out our leadership team to better support Native entrepreneurs and professionals.

This is a volunteer position with the following expectations:
• 3–5 hours per month supporting board operations
• Attendance at STBA events
• Participation in virtual meetings
• Commitment to a 3-year term (to the best of your ability)

If you’re ready to help lead, support, and uplift Native-owned businesses, we encourage you to apply today.

✨ Apply on our website or by clicking the link below:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdJ4yyzOo8RwwSiO0kYlsE_fvJ4WDC5BXn5KvM66evUPkuFlA/viewform?usp=header

11/11/2025

🌊 Member Highlight: Shoreline Supportive Counseling, PLLC

We’re proud to welcome Shoreline Supportive Counseling to the Sault Tribe Business Alliance!
This Native-owned practice, founded by Liz Case (LMSW) in Marquette, Michigan, provides compassionate outpatient mental health care specializing in grief and loss.

Liz is a licensed clinical social worker and certified grief support specialist offering culturally aware, trauma-informed, and strength-based counseling for those navigating loss of all kinds — from the passing of loved ones or pets to medical trauma, infertility, or life transitions.

🌐 shorelinesupportivecounseling.com

We’re honored to have Liz and Shoreline Supportive Counseling as part of our growing network of Native professionals strengthening community well-being through culturally grounded care. If you are looking to begin a new path, check out her website.

You can sign up to join our community as a native professional for only $50/year, or register your business for just $100/yr at https://stballiance.org

11/07/2025

Boozhoo- Friends! As we begin to prepare and plan for next years conference and we want to hear from you! 🌿

Your input is invaluable to us, so if you attended the 2025 Sault Tribe Business Alliance Business Conference, please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us.

✨ What did you enjoy most?
💡 What can we improve for next year?
🌎 What would you like to see us include in the future?

Your feedback helps us grow, connect, and create even better opportunities for our Native business community.

👉 Fill out the survey here: https://linktr.ee/stballiance

Miigwech for your time!

11/06/2025

🌿 Join the STBA Board of Directors 🌿
We’re looking for passionate leaders to help shape the future of Native entrepreneurship in our community! This is a remote position and our board meets monthly via Google Meet.

OUR GOAL:

The Sault Tribe Business Alliance connects, uplifts, and advocates for Native-owned businesses and professionals. Together, we build networks, create opportunities, and strengthen the roots of our tribal economy.

If you’re a motivated individual who wants to help drive collaboration, cultural representation, and business growth — we’d love to hear from you!

👉 Learn more and apply here to join our team: https://linktr.ee/stballiance

Miigwech for helping us grow our Alliance and continue supporting Native-owned businesses across the Great Lakes region.

11/03/2025

Aanii- Not every Native professional owns a business — but your work, your knowledge, and your presence still strengthen our circle. 🌿

If you’re a native professional, you can join the Sault Tribe Business Alliance as a Professional Member for just $50/year.

This could include professions like Accountants, Lawyers, Consultants, Marketers, and more!

Be part of our ever-growing directory of Native-owned businesses and professionals, created so that when people are ready to support Native, they have a trusted place to go — and can find the best connections, collaborations, and community.

Together, we’re building visibility, opportunity, and representation for Native professionals across industries.

🌐 Join us today at stballiance.org

Miigwech!

11/01/2025

The Power of Connection 🌱 Every year, the Sault Tribe Business Alliance Conference brings together Native entrepreneurs, professionals, and allies — and it’s so much more than networking. It’s about building real connections that grow into partnerships, collaborations, and opportunities.

Some highlights include:

• Recreational Wellness and Raco Comfort Enterprises teamed up in a trade — exchanging a Foot Fort for promotional work.

• Attendees purchased Julie Buchholtz's latest book to deliver to Native youth centers across their regions.

• New connections were made with lawyers and 8(a) certified companies to help others move forward with their own certification.

• The STBA looks forward to collaborating with Clarissa Friday to incorporate her photography into our designs.

• The Sault Tribe Thrive, Sault Tribe Capital Fund, and STI Federal shared funding and financing options and connected members in need with resources and opportunities.

And that’s just the beginning.

This is what makes the STBA community so powerful — when we gather, we don’t just talk business, we build relationships rooted in culture and community.

If you made a meaningful connection at this year’s conference, we’d love to hear about it! Drop a comment or tag us to share your story. 💬

Miigwech again to our sponsors: Michigan Economic Development Corporation , Sault Tribe Incorporated , Sault Tribe Thrive , Sault Tribe Capitol Fund, Williamson Creative Agency LLC , and Eagle’s Dream LLC .

10/25/2025

Ani! We want to hear from you! 🌿
If you attended the 2025 Sault Tribe Business Alliance Business Conference, please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us.

✨ What did you enjoy most?
💡 What can we improve for next year?
🌎 What would you like to see us include in the future?

👉 Fill out the survey here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfct0gtKG-KMNnCnC8323j8bvF1fsC-pRowCeIIf4syhxrVXA/viewform?usp=header

Your feedback helps us grow, connect, and create even better opportunities for our Native business community.

Miigwech again to our sponsors: Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Sault Tribe Incorporated, Sault Tribe Thrive , Sault Tribe Capitol Fund, Williamson Creative Agency LLC, and Eagle’s Dream LLC.

And Miigwech for your time!

10/21/2025

Change is part of growth — and today, the Sault Tribe Business Alliance extends our deepest gratitude to Taryn Sulkes as she steps down from her role as STBA President.

Over the years, Taryn has shared her insight, leadership, and unwavering dedication to strengthening our community of Native entrepreneurs and professionals. Her guidance helped shape the foundation that continues to connect and empower our members today.

As Taryn moves forward in her career, we wish her continued success and fulfillment on her path. 🌿

We’re also pleased to share that Rob Payne will be serving as Interim President while we welcome new board members and prepare for the next round of elections.

Miigwech, Taryn, for your years of service — and miigwech to all of our members for your continued support as we grow and evolve together.

10/15/2025

Couldn’t make it to every session — or just want to revisit the inspiration? 🌿

We’ve uploaded all of the presentations from the 2025 Sault Tribe Business Alliance Conference to our Resource Center so our STBA Members can reference them anytime. From entrepreneurship insights to cultural leadership and community-building strategies — it’s all there, ready to help you grow.

If you’re not yet a member, this is a great time to join our circle of Native professionals and entrepreneurs.

🌱 Membership starts at just $50/year for professionals, or $100/year for small Tribal-member-owned businesses — which includes a directory listing on our website and access to our growing network.

Visit https://www.stballiance.org to sign up or log in to access the resources.

Address

531 Ashmun Street
Sault Ste. Marie, MI
49783

Website

https://stballiance.org/

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