SAULT STE. MARIE — A ransomware attack that shut down gaming at all five Kewadin Casino locations also impacted other Sault Tribe offices, the tribe announced late Monday. It may be a week or more before regular operations can resume.

“On Sunday morning, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians suffered a ransomware attack. This attack impacted multiple computer and phone systems across the tribe, including the casinos, health centers and various businesses. In response, the tribe has had to temporarily close many departments and businesses,” Sault Tribe Chairman Austin Lowes said in a press release issued to local media outlets and and posted on the tribe’s official Facebook page. “Our hope is that this issue gets resolved within a week, but we are prepared for it to last longer.”

Gaming operations had been halted by Sunday afternoon at the Manistique, Christmas, and Hessel locations. At 7 a.m. Monday, gaming was suspended at the Sault Ste. Marie and St. Ignace locations.

“We understand that this is inconvenient and unexpected news. Please know our experts are working around-the-clock to restore gaming operations. We apologize for this inconvenience,” the casinos said in identical posts made late Sunday by each of the casino locations on their respective Facebook pages.

The incident prevented hotel guests from checking in at Kewadin hotel Sunday afternoon, though guests who were already checked in were permitted to stay.

The Kewadin website, www.kewadin.com, was also down Monday morning. By early afternoon, the website had been restored.

“We understand the disruption this is causing to many members’ and employees’ lives and are working diligently to resolve this issue as quickly as possible,” Lowes said. “We also understand there are many questions. The Board of Directors is being updated as new information is available but, due to the sensitive nature of what is occurring and the importance of not saying anything that could interfere with the ongoing investigation, there is little more we can share at this time and ask for your patience and understanding.”

Lowes noted that updates would be made using the tribe’s various Facebook pages.

Despite the attack, tribal government services are open in a limited capacity. A free teen dating violence awareness and Valentine’s Day dance event set for Friday was postponed until further notice, and tribal members were advised to use direct lines to contact tribal departments and services.

The contact numbers and the status of various tribal services published by the tribe are as follows:

Sault Tribe Administration – 906-379-7216 or 906-440-8108

Anishinaabek Community and Family Services

ACFS is fully operational at this time, including our Advocacy Resource Center, Family Services & Child Placement, Direct Services and USDA. Please contact the below numbers for ACFS:

906-440-6491 – ACFS Main

906-440-5780 – ACFS USDA

906-440-6492 – ACFS Lodge of Hope

906-440-6523 – ACFS – Kincheloe

906-440-6521 – ACFS – Manistique

Communications

Communications will continue to publish its monthly newspaper. Communications can be reached at 906-440.6586.

Education

Education Services, including Early Head Start, Head Start, Child Care Center, and Youth Education & Activities are fully operational, please contact Sault Tribe Education at that the following:

906-440-6493 – Education Main / WIOA

906-440-5225 – Head Start / EHS / CCC – Sault

906-440-6512 – Head Start / EHS – St. Ignace

906-440-6584 – Education Higher Education

906-440-6570 – YEA Sault

906-440-6603 – YEA Hessel

906-341-3362 – Manistique

906-789-0972 – Escanaba

906-643-8500, ext. 173 – St. Ignace

906-440-1870 – Rudyard

906-387-1014 – Munising

Elder Services

Elder Services are fully operational at this time, including meal programs, transportation to appointments, Home Health Tech visits, Outreach Worker visits, Medication deliveries (Sault Ste. Marie only) and all Elder Committee meetings. Members needing to submit for Elder Health Fund requests, should contact Elder Services. Elder Services can be reached at 906-440-6537.

Enrollment

Enrollment is currently unable to print new membership cards. For questions, Enrollment can be reached at 906-440-5839.

Enterprises

All Mid Jim locations will be temporarily closed. Call 906-203-5111 for Mid Jim related questions.

Other Operations

DeMawating Development will continue normal operations. Call 906-498-9800 with questions.

Sawyer Village will continue normal operations. Call 906-346-3919 with questions.

Real Estate questions can be directed to DeMawating or Saywer Village.

Gitchi Home and Auto will be operating as usual.

White Pine Lodge Hotel will be operating as usual.

Housing Services

Sault Tribe Housing Authority is open. Please limit your calls to maintenance emergencies during this time. Additional questions can be referred to the below contacts:

906-440-6567 – Housing Resident Services

906-440-6562 – Housing Occupancy

906-440-6595 – Housing Home Ownership

906-440-6592 – Housing Collections/Compliance

906-440-6579 – Housing Accounts Receivable

906-440-6578 – Housing Warehouse

Human Resources

Contact Sault Tribe Human Resources at 906-440-6583 for Human Resources or Employment related questions.

Language & Culture

Language & Culture is fully operational at this time, and can be reached at 906-203-4746.

Sault Tribe Law Enforcement & Conservation

Sault Tribe Law Enforcement is unable to process new Inland Hunting and Fishing Licenses at this time. Call 911 for emergencies or contact the below numbers for non-emergent services: 906-440-6520 or 906-440-6503.

Natural Resources

The Natural Resources Division remains open to the membership. Fisheries and Wildlife staff are working on harvest reporting and are available to answer questions. Environmental staff are working on air, water, and Brownfields planning, as well as ambient and indoor air assessments. Contact Natural Resources at 906-440-6533 for questions.

Recreation

The Big Bear Arena is operating as normal for all scheduled events and activities with the following exceptions. At this time, only cash payments can be accepted, there is an ATM on-site for customers. The Concessions menu may be limited during operating hours. The facility’s website is also available at www.bigbeararena.com, email bookthebear@saulttribe.net or phone at 906-440-6536.

Repatriation & Historical Preservation

Repatriation & Historical Preservation is fully operational, including the Ojibwe Learning Center & Library. Questions can be directed to 906-440-6587.

Sault Tribe Legal Department & Tax Office

The Sault Tribe Legal Department and Tax Office can be reached at 906-259-3595 for the Legal Department/Tax Office or 906-379-8192 – Tax Office. The Tax Office Facebook page is “Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians Tax Office.”

Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa Tribal Court

Tribal Court is fully operational and can be reached at 906-440-6539. All hearings will be connected via Zoom.