The University of Minnesota is in discussions with the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa about transferring control of over 3,400 acres of land back to the tribe.
The land is part of the university’s Cloquet Forestry Center located within the boundaries of the Fond du Lac Reservation.
Righting Historic Wrongs
The potential land transfer is part of the university’s efforts to reckon with its mistreatment of Indigenous peoples throughout its history.
In recent years, the school has been conducting a broad review of its relationship with tribal nations going back to its founding in 1851.
Researchers with the university’s TRUTH Project have uncovered details about how the school benefited from the 1862 Morrill Act, which granted university lands expropriated from Native tribes.
The university hopes to make amends for past harms through initiatives like returning the Cloquet Forestry Center.
Productive Talks So Far
Discussions between Fond du Lac leaders and university officials have been productive so far.