Three important parcels of land totaling 87 acres that originally belonged to the Grand Portage Band of Chippewa in northern Minnesota have been returned to them. The agreement was reached through a collaboration with the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation and the Minnesota Land Trust. Although the land was lost through questionable acquisitions and purchases, the Band sees this as a hopeful step towards restoration. This return of culturally meaningful land allows the Tribe to steward it and “keep these lands pristine” for future generations.
The Grand Portage Band of Chippewa recently announced a historic transfer of land back to the reservation. According to the news release, three parcels of land, totaling 87 acres, were returned through a grant from the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation (Foundation). It is the largest acquisition of the Band in recent history. The transfer of ownership began in 2024, when the Foundation began working with the landowners, the B. Van Johnson Trust (Trust), and the Minnesota Land Trust.
The land acquisition is an encouraging step for the Band. “The return of this land to Grand Portage is the largest land return in our recent history, and it carries meaning for our Grand Portage families that goes far beyond just acreage,” said Robert Deschampe, Chairman of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, in the release. He went on to add that, “Getting them back in a single transfer is something our Grand Portage Members have not seen in our lifetimes.”
Land lost through controversial exchanges
In 1854, Grand Portage signed a treaty with the United States, which gave up ownership of a large area of land in the northeastern part of the state. The U.S. government set aside some of this land as a reservation for the Band. However, the Dawes Act of 1887 and the Nelson Act of 1889 allowed the government to divide some areas of the reservation land into individual allotments. Part of the intention was to assimilate native families into farming. Other lands were considered “surplus”. This resulted in large-scale losses of Tribal lands to timber and mining industries, railroads, and homesteaders. Unfair practices stripped native families of their allotments, severely impacting their livelihoods and way of life.
During the early 20th century, August Van Johnson and his nephew, Lloyd K. Johnson, both of whom worked for Cook County during their careers, went into business together, purchasing landholdings in the northeastern part of the state. According to the Band, some of it was done “without money changing hands”.
An MPR News article reported that the Foundation began examining how it had obtained some of its wealth. They discovered that three parcels of the B. Van Johnson Trust were originally part of the reservation.
The parcels are located near Grand Portage in northern Minnesota. The first includes a 5.19-acre stretch of Paradise Beach along the Lake Superior shoreline, which has held “deep cultural significance to the Band since time immemorial.” Another parcel is Francis Island (1.8 acres) in the Susie Islands Archipelago. People historically used this area as a canoe route between the mainland and Isle Royale for hunting, fishing, and gathering. The third area is an 80-acre forested tract known as the Mineral Center Road Forest Parcel. It is located about five miles west of the reservation. This parcel was lost through allotment.
Transfer supported by all parties
Members of the B. Van Johnson trust, as well as Johnson family members, were in favor of the land return to the Band. David Berner, who represents the Trust, said that “Our family recognized how meaningful this land is to the Grand Portage Band, and we are grateful to have worked together with the Grand Portage Band, the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation, and the Minnesota Land Trust to make this return possible.”
Members of the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation unanimously voted to award a $1.2 million grant to the Band to purchase the land from the Trust.
“The Foundation has put significant effort into understanding the history and impacts of Mr. Johnson and his family’s business dealings along the North Shore,” stated Erik Torch, the Foundation’s executive director, in the release. “We have worked to build a relationship with the Grand Portage Band and to support their goals for their people and nation. This land return is an important chapter in what we hope will be a long and positive partnership. The Foundation is grateful to the Johnson Family for their willingness to return this land, and to the Minnesota Land Trust for their critical help in this effort.”
While previous injustices against the native community can not be changed, the land transfer is being celebrated by the Band. “Nothing can undo what happened to our Grand Portage families over the past 200 years,” said Chairman Deschampe. “But returning these lands to the Band is very meaningful — for our ancestors, for our people today, and for the generations who will care for and keep these lands pristine after us. We are grateful to the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation, the Minnesota Land Trust, and the B. Van Johnson Trust for making this happen.”
Community members recently celebrated the transfer at a luncheon. During a ceremony there, Deschampe signed a proclamation establishing March 16 as ‘Land Return Day.
Note about the main image by Travis Novitsky
From Travis Novitsky’s bio: “A proud member and lifelong resident of the Grand Portage Anishinaabe Nation in northeast Minnesota, Travis has been photographing the woods and waters of the north shore of Lake Superior for more than 35 years. He is a self-taught nature and wildlife photographer whose work focuses primarily on his ancestral homelands in Minnesota. Travis specializes in images of nature and wildlife, but his favorite subject by far is the night sky. He devotes countless hours to capturing images of star-filled skies and the Aurora Borealis (northern lights). He hopes that his passion for photography will inspire others to spend more time outside enjoying all the beauty that Mother Nature has to offer.” You can view more of his work at his website.
More info:
- Grand Portage Band regains historic Tribal land – Grand Portage Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe
- Grand Portage Band celebrates return of tribal land taken more than a century ago – MPR News