The members of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians have long been a sovereign group acknowledged by the U.S. government. Over the course of history, they have been organized under many different names including: residents of the Pere Marquette Village, Unit No. 7 of the Northern Michigan Ottawa Association, the Thornapple River Band, and finally the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians.

On September 31, 1994, the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, comprising nine of the nineteen Grand River Band of Ottawa Indians in Michigan, received reaffirmed federal recognition. Presently, the other ten bands of the Grand River Ottawa are seeking the same recognition from the federal government. They are located on the west coast of Michigan's lower peninsula and number nearly 4000, a substantial portion of all Ottawa natives in Michigan.

As of February 6, 2001, they were listed on the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Register of Petitions for Acknowledgment. The status of their request for recognition is pending approval.