First Tribal Nation now federally recognized in Illinois

Danny Connolly
·2 min read

DEKALB COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Illinois now has federally recognized Indian Nation within its state borders.

The U.S. government illegally auctioned 1,280 acres of northern Illinois land belonging to the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation 175 years ago while the chief was in Kansas. Now, the U.S. Department of Interior has announced the government returned portions of the Shab-eh-nay Reservation land into a trust for the nation, officials announced Friday.

“Prairie Band has sought to continue our history as an original part of DeKalb County and right historical wrongs,” said Prairie Band Chairman Joseph Rupnick, who also is the great grandson of Chief Shab-eh-nay. “We have been asking for this recognition and for what is rightfully ours for nearly 200 years, and we are grateful to the U.S. Department of Interior for this significant step in the pursuit of justice for our people and ancestors.”

Now that the the federal government placed the land into a trust, it can be labelled as “Indian country” which means the Nation can exercise sovereignty.

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Local leaders say the recognition helps the Tribe cherish the rich history and culture of the original inhabitants of DeKalb County.

“175 years ago, our federal government unlawfully sold the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nations land in Illinois,” U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL) said. “In Congress, I’ve been working in partnership with the Nation to correct this historic injustice. The decision to put portions of the Shab-eh-nay Reservation into Trust is an important step to returning the land that is rightfully theirs, and I am so honored to represent the first federally-recognized reservation in Illinois.”

All current homeowners on the land will continue to retain the titles to their land and can live in their homes undisturbed, Prairie Band officials said.

The Potawatomi nation is currently evaluating potential uses of the land, but have no immediate changes. Prairie Band officials hope the U.S. government takes further steps to rectify past injustices.

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