President Joe Biden recently signed the bipartisan Winnebago Land Transfer Act into law, returning 1,600 acres of land to the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska that was illegally seized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 50 years ago. This act honors the Treaty of 1865, which established the Winnebago Reservation along the Missouri River. The land was condemned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1970 for a recreation project, sparking a five-decade fight by the tribe to reclaim their territory.
Winnebago Tribal chairwoman Victoria Kitcheyan expressed gratitude for the historic moment, recognizing the efforts of past generations to protect their homelands. The land transfer includes a restriction prohibiting the tribe from using the land for gaming purposes.
Senator Deb Fischer, who introduced the bill, stated that returning the land corrects a decades-old wrong and allows the Winnebago Tribe to once again have control over their territory. The tribe plans to utilize the land for public hunting and other purposes beneficial to tribal members.
This significant victory for the Winnebago Tribe restores a piece of their heritage and provides a sense of justice after years of fighting for the return of their ancestral lands. The legislation underscores the importance of honoring treaties and rectifying past injustices against Indigenous communities.
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