Lakeland PBS
❤ Donate
  • Home
  • Support
  • Watch Now
    • Livestream
    • Local Shows
    • Watch Online
    • Schedule
    • Our Channels
    • Webcam
  • Lakeland News
    • News Feed
    • Featured Segments
    • Watch a News Story
    • Watch a Sports Story
  • Shop
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • State Legacy Funding
    • Meetings & Public Filings
    • Education
    • Employment
  • ❤ DONATE

Plan in Place to Transfer Over 11,000 Acres Back to Leech Lake Band

Betsy Melin — Jul. 9 2021
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and Chippewa National Forest have come together to create a plan of survey for a reservation restoration act that will transfer over 11,000 acres of land to the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.

In the 1940s and ’50s, land belonging to the Leech Lake Band was inappropriately sold in Cass, Hubbard, and Beltrami Counties.

“It was land that was wrongfully taken through the [Bureau of Indian Affairs], Chippewa National Forest back in the ’40s and ’50s, and it stayed that way for some time,” said Faron Jackson, Sr., Leech Lake Tribal Chairman. “And we wanted it returned, and they acknowledged that the land was wrongfully taken but we still had to lobby constantly to pass it into law.”

The act was passed in December of 2020 with a 180-day deadline to create a plan for surveying that land in Cass County specifically.

“One of the important things about the act is it developed a timeline for us as the Department of Agriculture to transfer 11,760 acres to the Department of the Interior to be held in trust for the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe,” said Michael Stansberry, forest supervisor for Chippewa National Forest.

That deadline was met in June of this year, and now the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe will work with Chippewa National Forest to agree on the parcels that will be used.

The land represents a lot to the people who fought for so long to have it restored.

“There’s cultural connection to a lot of different property that a lot of people have been kind of disconnected to through this, and so outside of economic opportunity or housing opportunity, needing land for things, people have this direct access and direct connection back culturally to the land,” said LeRoy Staples-Fairbanks, Leech Lake Band District Three Representative.

The Chippewa National Forest encompasses over 1.5 million acres.

Lakeland News is member supported content. Please consider supporting Lakeland News today.

Donate Today
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

By — Betsy Melin

Related Posts

MnDOT Asking for Feedback on Highway 2 Design Options in Cass Lake

Cass County Deputy Receives Lakes Area Heroes Donation

MN Gov. Tim Walz Declares State Disaster Assistance for Eight Counties

Common Ground: The Central Minnesota Barn Quilt Trail

  • Program Schedule

Get the free PBS Video App

roku
Apple TV
FireTV
AndroidTV
Google Play Store
Apple Store

Connect with Us

Watch Lakeland PBS Live Stream!

Contact Us

Directions
Submit an Event
Submit a Video or Photo
Problem with the Website
Need to contact us about something else? Please visit our contact us page for more options.

About Us

Lakeland PBS understands the media that people are exposed to make a significant impact on their lives. Our hope is that the six channels we broadcast along with our online presence provide people with media experiences that make a positive impact on their lives.

Lakeland PBS is where you want to be!

108 Grant Ave NE, Bemidji, MN 56601 | 800-292-0922
KAWE Public Profile | KAWB Public Profile | Cable Provider Channel List | Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2023 Lakeland PBS. All Right Reserved.

How would you like to show your support?

Monthly Contribution

One-Time Contribution

Thank-You Gift

I would like to select a thank-you gift

No Gift

Put 100% of my gift towards programming