Local News

Cass County and Leech Lake tout stellar tribal-county partnership

KAXE | By Larissa Donovan

Published February 5, 2025 at 3:02 PM CST

Cass County Board Chair Rick Haaland takes turns leading the meeting with Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Chairman Faron Jackson Sr. at their joint meeting on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025.

In their annual joint meeting on Jan. 31, 2025, leaders from Cass County Board and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe discuss shared interests and celebrate past successes.

CASS LAKE — While land transfers to Native tribes have become divisive issues in Minnesota politics, the partnership between Cass County and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe sets a different standard for the process.

The Leech Lake Band is preparing a technical correction to its land transfer with the Chippewa National Forest. The transfer of more than 11,000 acres was approved by an act of Congress in 2020. But according to the band, surveyors determined 4,400 more acres were illegally transferred by secretaries of the interior to the U.S. Department of Agriculture decades ago.

Cass County has previously been supportive of Leech Lake’s efforts to restore this historic homeland. Leech Lake Secretary-Treasurer Lenny Fineday expressed his desire to see the county's nonpartisan support on this issue continue as the band prepares to go back to Congress for the correction.

Cass County Commissioner Neal Gaalswyk, left, looks on as Leech Lake Secretary-Treasurer Lenny Fineday speaks at their joint meeting on Jan. 31, 2025.

"It's unfortunate that this issue of fixing a historic wrong has become politicized in a partisan fashion,” Fineday said. “But first and foremost, we want to make sure that we're letting the county know what's happening. And secondly, based on our partnership, we want to ask the county to engage in consultation with us.”

Discussion topics for the two-hour joint meeting on Friday, Jan. 31, included shared interests in legal processes, road projects and health services. A recurring theme throughout was an appreciation for the collaboration and communication between tribe and county on all levels.

“This relationship between Cass County and the Leech Lake Band has made things better for others that face similar challenges,” said Cass County Administrator Josh Stevenson. “A lot of people ask us, ‘How does that work?’ So just be aware that it’s being noticed. I’m not aware of a relationship like this anywhere else, especially one that’s gone on this long.”

After renewing an expired memorandum of understanding between the tribe and county, Leech Lake Chairman Faron Jackson reflected on how much he values not only the cooperation, but the friendships built along the way.

Cass County Board Chair Rick Haaland, left, looks on as Leech Lake Chairman Faron Jackson Sr. signs the renewed memorandum of understanding between the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and Cass County on Jan. 31, 2025. Standing, from left, are: Cass County Commissioner Bob Kangas, LLBO District III Representative Leon Staples, LLBO Secretary-Treasurer Lenny Fineday, Cass County Commissioner Scott Bruns and Commissioner Neal Gaalswyk, and LLBO District II Representative Steve White.

"We're living in tough times today and it gets a little scary,” Jackson said. “But when we have good partners, good collaboration and a lot of transparency and truth, it goes a long way."

“It's just like a marriage,” Jackson added. “To make something work, you got to have truth.”

Cass County Commissioner Neal Gaalswyk also offered some closing words, acknowledging that at the end of the day, the tribe and the county are serving the same people.

“[We’re] righting past wrongs, moving things forward in positive way, and that happens every week of the year here now because of this,” Gaalswyk said. "Personally, it's been transformative for me, but I really believe that it's been transformative for the relationship between the tribe and the county.”

Leech Lake and Cass County plan to increase the frequency of joint meetings to twice per year, in July and January.