Michigan Inter-Tribal Land Grant Extension System (MILES)

Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College

Bay Mills Community College

Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College

Michigan State University Extension

Partnerships_MSU_TCU_2021_Final_MILES-outline-01

To support tribal nations, communities and learners, MILES envisions a unified Michigan land grant college system based on shared knowledge, resources and power.

Submit a request to work with the MILES Team

The Michigan Inter-Tribal Land Grant Extension System (MILES) is the next step in building the foundation for a seamless, integrated, and intentional Land Grant System in Michigan serving all Michigan Tribal Nations and communities. The integrated system includes the four land-grant institutions (1862 and three 1994s) in Michigan. This will also include the 12 federally recognized Tribes as partners and Nations that we as land grant institutions have a responsibility to be responsive to.

The existing integrated Land Grant collaboration between Bay Mills Community College
and Michigan State University Extension, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and community partners is serving the Bay Mills Indian Community, and has produced a template for expanded and impactful involvement with all Tribal Nations and communities in Michigan – this is precisely the model of integrated and sustained 1862/1994 collaboration that the leadership at NIFA have been working to establish.


Goals of MILES include:

  • Addressing programmatic and research requests in the areas of:
    • Agriculture
    • Tribal Youth and Leadership
    • Leadership Development
    • Conservation of Natural Resources and Land Issues
    • Family and Consumer Science, Health & Nutrition
    • Economic Development
  • Increased input from Michigan tribal nations with regard to educational programming
    efforts.
  • Input from Michigan tribal nations regarding research needs.
  • Increased collaborative scholarship with Michigan tribal nations and MSU Extension.
  • A clear message that MSU Extension staff are supported and encouraged to continue building
    relationships, dedicating time and effort in programming with tribal nations and
    communities
  • The recognition that tribal nations are self-governing and that no matter
    population/resources, the government to government relationship will be honored.
  • Action plans

The first two years of this effort were partially funded by Extension-Special Emphasis funds
which included communication and education efforts, relationship building, formalizing the
Indian Country Land Grant team, hosting initial Michigan Tribal Land Grant summits, and
initiating more programming with Tribal communities. The MILES initiative was submitted as
an Extension-Special Emphasis proposal by Bay Mills Community College (1994 Land Grant) in
collaboration with Michigan State University Extension (1862 partner).

Learn More About the Land Grant System in Michigan

Michigan State University
  • Spartans Will.
  • © Michigan State University

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer, committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential.

Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Quentin Tyler, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.

The 4-H Name and Emblem have special protections from Congress, protected by code 18 USC 707.

We comply with the Federal Trade Commission 1998 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).