Meet the Councilors

Title: Chairman

Name: Robert (Bob K.) Kewaygoshkum


Robert "Bob K." Kewaygoshkum, who is currently serving in his second term as Chairman of the Grand Traverse Band, was born in 1951, grew up in Petoskey, Michigan and is now a resident of Grand Traverse County. He and his wife Kathy have four children and 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. They have also served as foster parents in Indian Children for many years. During the course of his professional life with the Tribe the Chairman has served as Fiscal Manager; Tribal Manager where he negotiated many federal and state grants and contracts for the Tribe; Land Acquisition Manager and Facilities Manager. He has served on the Indian Child Welfare Committee and the Tribal Grievance Committee. He was appointed by the Tribal Council to the Northern Michigan Renewable Energy Board and the Michigan Rural Development Council. He was the Chief Negotiator for the Tribe for several years in Self-Governance, in which he still plays an active role. Chairman Kewaygoshkum is the current Chair of the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan; is Chair of the Great Lakes Resource Committee (GLRC); is an active CORA (Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority) Board Member; is the GTB Representative for United Indian Nations of the Great Lakes Consortium that works to protect our water resources and travels to NCAI (National Congress of American Indians) events, to Lansing and to Washington as partof his efforts to protect the interests and sovereignty of the Tribe. As shown by the purchase of the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa during his reign, the expansion of Turtle Creek Casino, and the other many projects in development, Chairman Kewaygoshkum strives to make the Grand Traverse Band an economic force to be reckoned with in Indian Country. Chairman Kewaygoshkum is also a traditional dancer and is very proud of his heritage, culture and his dedication to his Tribe.

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