Prairie Band Potawatomi becomes first federally recognized tribal nation in Illinois

The first federally recognized tribal nation in Illinois has been established after a federal decision placed 130 acres into trust.

The U.S. Department of the Interior placed parts of Shab-eh-nay Reservation land in DeKalb County into trust for the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, giving the tribal nation sovereignty over the land.

That means the land — which sits just southeast of Shabbona, about 70 miles west of Chicago and was purchased by Prairie Band years ago — will be governed by the tribal nation, which is now eligible for federal benefits and protections as a result.

The title for the land was signed over on Friday by Prairie Band Chairman Joseph Rupnick.

The decision is part of attempts to correct the “historic injustice” that occurred 175 years ago when the U.S. government auctioned off nearly 1,300 acres of Prairie Brand’s land in northern Illinois while Chief Shab-eh-nay was visiting family in Kansas, according to the tribal nation.

Rupnick, the fourth-generation great grandson of Chief Shab-eh-nay, said it was a “significant step in the pursuit of justice for our people and ancestors”

“Prairie Band has sought to continue our history as an original part of DeKalb County and right historical wrongs,” Rupnick said in a statement. “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.”

U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14), who co-sponsored legislation to help return the land to Prairie Brand, said it was the first step on the government’s end to “correct a historic injustice.”

“Our federal government unlawfully sold the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation’s land in Illinois,” Underwood said in a statement. “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.”

A proposed bill in the Illinois state house in February would give Shabbona State Park, a total of about 1,500 acres, to Prairie Band as well, though that legislation has yet to make it out of committee. A Prairie Band spokesperson confirmed if the legislation goes through, the park would remain open to the public.

The tribal nation also said they wanted to pursue the “least disruptive path” to regaining their land, and said all current homeowners there will retain the titles to their homes and can continue living “undisturbed.” No plans currently exist but the tribal nation said it is evaluating different potential uses for the land.

In 2016, Prairie Band leaders proposed a gaming facility for the land, which would include a gaming area, restaurants, lounges, parking lot and a multi-purpose room for entertainment, meetings and other purposes, according to Department of the Interior documents.

The purpose would be “to facilitate economic development so that the Tribal government can better provide housing, health care, education, cultural programs and other services to its members,” federal officials wrote in a 2016 public notice. Those plans have yet to materialize

Officials from DeKalb County and the Department of the Interior didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

“The move to put the land into trust for Prairie Band will hopefully be the first of many steps by the U.S. government to rectify historical injustices against indigenous peoples across the country,” Prairie Band leaders said in a statement.