Congress is considering a bill to distribute a $28 million judgment fund to the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.

The Court of Federal Claims awarded $20 million in 1999 for the loss of timber and land. With interest, the judgment has grown to more than $28 million as the six bands of the Chippewa Tribe have debated how to distribute it.

S. 1739, the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Judgment Fund Distribution Act, authorizes a per capita payment of $300 to each tribal member. The remaining amount would go to each of six Chippewa bands, a payment estimated at nearly $3 million for each band.

The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe is made up of the Bois Forte Band, the Fond du Lac Band, the Grand Portage Band, the Leech Lake Band, the Mille Lacs Band and the White Earth Band. The Leech Lake Band has not agreed to S.1739.

Each band has the option of distributing its share on a per capita basis. The Fond du Lac Band already plans to do that.

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee held a hearing on S.1739 earlier this month. The House Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on H.R.1272 on March 1.

Get the Story:
Six Chippewa bands to split $28 million federal payout (The Duluth News Tribune 2/16)

Committee Notice:
LEGISLATIVE HEARING on the following bills (February 2, 2012)