All cats have burdens, but on Mackinac Island, cats have burdens who are people and some cats have burdens of the land. Part of the cats dealing with their burdens is keeping the land and people in balance by dealing with mysteries even they do not fully comprehend (Although they have a fair amount better understanding than their human burdens)

Those that Suffer the Living take people as their burdens, and work to maintain the illusion of the island as a vacationer's paradise. Tourists are not naturally protective of the land, even when they love it, and it takes a great deal of effort to keep these enthusiasts in balance with the land.

Those that Suffer the Land take spirits of the land as their burdens, be it a pond, a cave or a cavern or a grove of trees. Living in the wild of Mackinaw Island is not easy, and it takes all their wits and skills to survive. 

The third group is less of a group and of a starting point. Before the tourists arrive, the seasonal workers arrive to staff the hotels, cool and serve the food, and manage the boat slips. More than a few bring their families and their cats, and others bring their cats on the sly. These are the Those that Move with the Seasons or the harbingers of the Season, a wild, hectic time, where the balance between the land and the people tips again.  Many Niibin need to learn the special place Mackinac Island holds in the universe, while others have been coming year after year. Niibin usually have human burdens, but may assist the Those that Suffer the Land as well, if their talents lead them to do so.

Together, these groups form the Mackinac Island Parliament