The Treaty of Chicago was signed on August 29, 1821, by Michigan Territorial Governor Lewis Cass, Solomon Sibley on behalf of the United States, and representatives of the Grand River Ottawa, Ojibwe, and Potawatomi Nations. In joining the treaty, the tribes ceded to the U.S. federal government all lands in Michigan Territory south of the Grand River and west of what is now the City of Jackson, except for several small tracts reserved for Indigenous peoples. The treaty established the Grand River as the southern boundary of territory controlled by the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians. In exchange for ceding 1,140,740 acres, the treaty provided that the Ottawa who call this place home would receive $1,000 annually forever and an additional $1,500 annually for 10 years to support a blacksmith, teacher, and agricultural education programs. One hundred fifty-five years later, after an Act of Congress passed in 1976, the U.S. government awarded the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians $932,620.01, and many descendants did not receive compensation until the 1980's. Some had still not received compensation as the community marked the 200th anniversary of the treaty's signing. The agreement opened this area for settlement and had an enormous impact on Native American ways of life, as people continued to be displaced or forcibly relocated to accommodate newcomers. As a cornerstone agreement, it remains a key legal reference for hunting rights, tribal blood certifications, land claims, and federal legislation, and it continues to play a significant role in the everyday lives of the Grand River Ottawa.