MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Marquette will soon be getting a new healthcare facility courtesy of The Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
Members of the tribe, along with several Marquette city commissioners, held a long-awaited groundbreaking today at the South Gate Shopping Center in South Marquette tribal chairman Austin Lowes describes what this means.
“So we’re working We’re going to work really closely with the engineers and contractors hired through this project. We’re going to do a full renovation that includes interior and exterior renovation. When this project is done, it’s going to be able to provide primary care services for tribal members and non-tribal members, along with dental services as well,” said Lowes.
Currently, tribal members must make the drive to Munising or Manistique for primary health care. This new facility will cater to all native peoples in the Marquette County area.
“We won’t have to travel to Munising anymore, once this is open. And I’m really looking forward to that, and I think it’s a good step for our tribe, also,” said tribal member Rosemary Larson.
The facility will offer primary care physicians as well as dental care to Marquette’s over 1300 tribal members, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.
“So they rely on Indian Health Services. So when, when those ailments go untreated, it leads to chronic conditions where we can actually treat them immediately here,” said tribal vice-chair LaPlaunt
Plans are in place to one day include care for nonnative patients, as well as expanded services like a pharmacy and pediatric medicine.
“There will always be a prioritization in treating tribal members, but this facility will be open to non-tribal members as well,” said Lowes.
“It’s going to be a place where people are very comfortable coming. We’re going to be able to provide primary care services for phase one, and then moving into phase two, we’re going to be able to offer pharmacy services and dental services,” said health division CEO James Benko.
The goal is to have this facility up and running by the fall of 2025.
