01-03-2025
LANDBACK: Spirit Lake Nation regains land from Fish and Wildlife Service
Stewart HuntingtonICT
The Spirit Lake Nation is celebrating the return of 680 acres of land that was stripped away more than a century ago from its original treaty territory.
The transfer on Feb. 10 marked the culmination of a multi-generation effort by the nation to reclaim lands from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's White Horse Hill National Game Preserve in North Dakota.
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"This return of land is a significant step towards healing and reconciliation,' said Spirit Lake Chairwoman Lonna Jackson-Street. 'After decades of effort, we are grateful for the support of our partners in the government and the recognition of our rightful claim to these lands.'
The land was carved from the tribe's 1867 treaty territory by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1905. In the late 1950s, it was deemed "submarginal lands" and and was designated to be excess to the needs of the game preserve. The Spirit Lake Nation formally sought the return of the lands as part of a broader movement by Congress to return submarginal lands to Indian nations.
Despite the widespread effort, the Fish and Wildlife Service retained the lands for hay production to support the buffalo population at White Horse Hill.
In the past decade, however, Fish and Wildlife did not use the land. This month, the General Services Administration, which manages the federal government's real estate portfolio, transferred the property to Spirit Lake.
'The community is excited and thankful for the leadership of the tribe, along with U.S. Fish and Wildlife (Service), Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Department of the Interior, who worked collaboratively getting our land back," said Spirit Lake Tribal Councilmember Darren Walking Eagle.
The returned property all lies within the original 1867 reservation boundaries and includes areas with native and medicinal plants the tribe intends to preserve. The returned land also offers some development opportunities the tribe may explore.
"It does offer the potential to expand our medical facility and build housing, but there are no definite plans at this time," said Jackson-Street.
In addition, there are 300 other acres of federal game preserve land that the tribe seeks to have returned. "Our leadership and community are hopeful regarding the return of lands back to the tribe," Jackson-Street said.
Multiple emails and voicemails left to representatives from the Fish and Wildlife Service seeking details about the land transfer were not returned.
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