Nearly 12K acres of Chippewa Forest transfers to Leech Lake Band

BENA — The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and the Chippewa National Forest signed a decision memo last week selecting parcels for transfer from the forest.

Over 11,700 forest acres are being transferred under the Leech Lake Reservation Restoration Act of 2020. In the 1940s and ‘50s, the U.S. Secretary of Interior authorized the transfer of 26,000 acres of allotted land within the reservation without the consent of tribal landowners.

The restored lands hold historical and cultural significance and will enable the band to invest in future generations, according to a news release. The land will be held in a trust by the Secretary of the Interior for development purposes in benefit of the band.

Leech Lake News reported the loss of the lands has had lasting negative effects and today, less than 5% of the lands guaranteed by the 1855 treaty remain in trust. The decision memo "marks a profound step forward in recognizing and correcting the social inequities and injustices endured by the Leech Lake people."

The band will host a commemorative ceremony at 11 a.m. on July 17 at Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School in Bena.

Background

The illegal land transfers took place between 1948 and 1959 and over the course of four secretaries of the interior.

Allotted lands refer to the allotment era beginning in the late 1880s, when tribes across the country lost 90 million acres of land after the passage of the Nelson and Dawes acts.

Contributed

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U.S. Dept. of Interior

The first Leech Lake Reservation boundary was established by treaty in 1855, with more treaties signed in 1863, 1864 and 1867, forming part of the present-day Leech Lake Reservation. Additional lands were granted by three of President Ulysses S. Grant’s executive orders between 1873 and 1874.

Reservations were initially held communally by all tribal members before the allotment acts. These allotted smaller tracts of land to individual tribal members, with lands not allotted sold out of tribal ownership.

By the mid-1920s, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe had lost over 650,000 acres of reservation land due to allotment-era policies.

Restoration Act

The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation Restoration Act transfers forest parcels within the boundary of the Leech Lake Reservation and within Cass County.

“It’s been a pleasure and an honor to work with the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe as we implement the Reservation Restoration Act to transfer back 11,760 acres to this sovereign nation. We understand the importance the land holds to the Band and will continue to work with the Band as we move through this process,” stated Chippewa Forest Supervisor Michael Stansberry in a news release.

Leech Lake Chairman Faron Jackson Sr. expressed gratitude for the collaboration of Forest Service and tribal staff to move the land transfer toward completion.

“It is with great joy and hope for the future in our hearts that we celebrate the latest step forward in restoring a portion of the illegally transferred lands back to the Leech Lake Ojibwe,” Jackson stated. “ … This is one of the most monumental and positive developments to take place on Leech Lake since the first treaties were signed and the reservation was established in 1855.”