These pages are about home life in the past. Today, Native Americans in the Great Lakes area live their lives like most Americans. They live in houses, attend schools (public or tribal), and work in all types of careers and jobs. Fishing in the Great Lakes has been a major source of income for many families throughout the years. Some have become successful artisans.

While controversial, the gaming industry in the Great Lakes has lifted many communities far above the poverty status they were at just a decade ago. Most of this income goes into the community (i.e. building homes, schools and health clinics). Tribal members are not given "handouts" as some people believe. Instead they are given opportunities to work in a tribal business or are sometimes given startup loans to develop their own business.