BRIMLEY, Mich. – The Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan hosted the Great Lakes Tribal Energy Summit October 13-14, 2026 at the Bay Mills Resort and Casino in Brimley, Michigan.
This two-day event offered featured presentations, panel discussions, and a field trip of Bay Mills Indian Community’s new solar farm.
Presentation topics included workforce development, energy sovereignty, renewable energy technologies, and planning and financing energy projects.
“I am very excited and honored to have participated in the Great Lakes Tribal Clean Energy Summit. Our session focused on tribal energy workforce development and capacity building to enable local job creation, economic development, and ultimately energy sovereignty. It was an honor to engage with the tribal communities and creating strong partnerships that support this important work,” said Stephanie Bostwick, Iniskim, LLC.
“It was great to join the Great Lakes Tribal Energy Summit and meet some of Bay Mills’s first Solar Workforce Development Plan graduates. This summit was an opportunity for tribes in the Great Lakes Region to come together and discuss issues specific to our area. Industry expert panels provided ample opportunity for questions on a wide variety of topics. The solar farm is midway through construction and it was exciting to share the farm with you on the tour.” said James Neuenschwander, Bay Mills Indian Community.
“Following in the footsteps of ancestral wisdom guides the work of Red Cloud Renewable. Embracing the sun has been core to the Lakota people since time immemorial. The advancements in solar technology are rooted in that ancestral belief. We are using these new ways to honor the old ways through our workforce development program. Creating a new generation of Solar Warriors that will be on the forefront of tomorrow’s energy future was a tremendous privilege to be able to share at the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Conference,” said John Red Cloud of Red Cloud Renewable.
The Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan gratefully acknowledges the U.S. Department of Energy for its support of the inaugural Great Lakes Tribal Energy Summit. Through this support, we are able to bring together tribal leaders, energy professionals, and partners to share knowledge, strengthen collaboration, and advance tribal energy initiatives throughout the Great Lakes region.
For further questions, contact Jenna Killips at jkillips@itcmi.org or 906-632-6896.
