The 5 principal officers of the grand council of the Eskimos of the state of Michigan desiring to become incorporated, may make and execute articles of association under their hands and seal, which said articles of association shall be acknowledged before some officer of the state having authority to take acknowledgments of deeds, and shall set forth:

Fifth, The object and purposes of the association, which shall be to protect and aid its members and their families, to promote the general welfare and the social and moral condition of its members, but neither such purposes nor condition of membership in such association shall include any requirements from the members to discriminate against any person in respect to civil rights because of religious belief or affiliation.

A copy of said articles of association together with a copy of the constitution of said association shall be filed with the corporation and securities bureau of the department of commerce, and thereupon the persons who shall have signed said articles of association, their associates and successors, shall be a body corporate and politic, and known in the law and in fact by the name expressed in such articles of association, and by that name they and their successors shall have succession, and shall be a person in the law, capable of purchasing, taking, receiving, owning, and enjoying, through them and their successors, estates real and personal, of suing and being sued, and to have a common seal which may be changed or altered at their pleasure, and they and their successors shall have power to give, grant, sell, demise, and dispose of such real and personal estate, or part thereof, at their will and pleasure, and the proceeds, rents, and income shall be devoted exclusively to the purposes of such association, as mentioned and defined by the constitution thereof.

Said association shall have full power and authority to make and establish rules and regulations for the governing of all the affairs and business of said association, according to the laws of this state and the United States, and to designate, elect or appoint from its members such officers, under such names and styles as shall be in accordance with the constitution of the grand council.

A copy of the records of such articles of association under seal of the department of commerce, duly certified according to law, shall be received as prima facie evidence in all courts of this state of the existence and due incorporation of such association; such association, when duly formed, shall have the power to institute and charter subordinate councils, and from time to time to make, ordain, constitute and establish such constitution, general laws, and bylaws as the grand council shall adjudge proper for the organization and government of such subordinate councils not repugnant to the laws of this state.

Any number of persons, not less than 10, residents of this state, being members of a subordinate council of the Eskimos of the state of Michigan, having been duly chartered by the grand council thereof, desiring to become incorporated, may make and execute articles of association, specifying and providing as in section 2 of this act, and file a copy of the same with the corporation and securities bureau of the department of commerce, and thereupon, the persons who shall have signed such articles of association, their associates and successors shall be a body politic and corporate, known by the name expressed in said articles of association, and provided by the grand council chartering such subordinate council, and by such name they and their associates shall have succession, and shall be persons in the law capable to purchase, give, lease, and demise real and personal estate, of suing and being sued, and may have a common seal, and may change and alter the same at their pleasure; and a certified copy of such articles of association, under the seal of the corporation and securities bureau of the department of commerce, shall be received as prima facie evidence in all courts in this state of the existence and due incorporation of such association: Provided, That said association shall be limited to the powers and provisions of section 3 of this act, regarding real and personal estate and the proceeds thereof under the rules and regulations of the grand council, and may elect or appoint from among its members such officers under such name and style as shall be in accordance with the constitution of such grand council.

The business office of the grand council shall be located in the village of L'Anse, county of Baraga, and state of Michigan, and subordinate councils shall have their business office where said subordinate council shall have been chartered and organized, and the location of the business office of the grand council may be changed at any time by said grand council, upon filing a written notice of such change in the office of the corporation and securities bureau of the department of commerce within 20 days from the time of the change from such location.

Corporations in pursuance of this act shall not be considered as engaged in the business of life insurance, nor shall they be subject to the provisions of the statute relating to life insurance companies or associations: Provided, Nothing in this act contained shall permit the making of any contract of insurance except that associations hereunder may make provisions for the payment of a funeral benefit not to exceed 200 dollars.