News: ELCA Synod makes reparations payment, a ‘2023 Indigenous Rights, Climate Justice Platform’, and more

In this post:

• Northeastern Minnesota Synod of the ELCA makes $185,000 reparations payment to MN Chippewa Tribe
• America’s Biggest Museums Fail to Return Native American Human Remains
• MNIPL, Indigenous leaders, launch 2023 Indigenous Rights, Climate Justice platform
• Report: Roots, solutions to Native American over incarceration
• Land Back in Alaska

Practical ‘Land Back’ opportunity, understanding the Two Spirit story, and more

In this post:

• Practical ‘Land Back’ opportunity through the Indian Land Tenure Foundation
• Understanding the Two Spirit story
• MPCA, DNR use law firm with ties to mining interests

Weekend Reads: Land Back, a court win, and the latest Enbridge criticism

In this post:

• Native Nations in Wisconsin get big property tax win
• Wisconsin Point returned to Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
• The hyperbole keeps coming from Enbridge and its backers

News/Events: Congregations invited to address systemic racism, land back victory, and more

In this post:

• Congregations invited to step into the work addressing systemic racism
• Line 5 crude oil pipeline tunnel under Great Lakes put on hold
• Onondaga Nation gets land back
• How a kelp farm could help restore Tribal sovereignty

The Bois Forte Land Back backstory

The Bois Forte Band of Chippewa acquired 28,000 acres of land within its traditional reservation boundaries this month, in what Native News Online describes as “the largest land-back agreement in Minnesota and one of the largest-ever in Indian Country.”

“The Bois Forte Band plans to directly manage the restored lands under a forest management plan that emphasizes conservation and environmental protection, balanced with economic and cultural benefits to the Band and its members,” the article said.

The headlines are calling this “historic” or that the tribe is “celebrating” the return of land. While true, this land-back story deserves context: An explanation of why Bois Forte needed to get its land back in the first place.