The Gordon Olsen Award, named for the Grand Rapids historian, is presented by Grand Valley State University’s Kutsche Office of Local History to individuals who use history to give voice to diverse communities.
“I can’t speak for everybody, but I think I’m really doing it for the sake of the community.”
As Chairman of the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians, Ron Yob is recognized for raising public awareness regarding 19th-century treaties signed between the U.S. government and Indigenous nations.
“I think it’s really important that the community realizes that there are still people that exist that are descendants, and it just shows resiliency of our tribe to be alive and well today.”
He says his work is far from over, continuing the fight for federal recognition of his Tribe from the U.S. Department of the Interior, a battle that’s lasted over three decades.
“I guess I just keep moving forward with it, and you can’t get upset about it. You just have to have a lot of patience and make sure that everything is proper and that we’re going through the right protocol and we’re providing any documentation evidence that the federal government asks us, which we have been able to do.”
Yob has also written multiple commemorative native history plaques located at significant Grand Rapids sites.
