By Isaac White.

An emotionally charged gathering unfolded within the auditorium of the Cloquet Forestry Center recently, marking a significant chapter in the history of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the University of Minnesota. At the heart of the assembly was the discussion on the proposed return of approximately 3,400 acres of land to the Fond du Lac Band, a move that symbolizes much more than a simple transfer of property. This land, pivotal for the past century as the site of the University’s forestry research center, encompasses the entirety of the Cloquet Forestry Center’s location.

The Cloquet Forestry Center (CFC), affiliated with the University of Minnesota, stands as a pivotal site for forest research and education since 1909. Nestled in the Lake Superior watershed at the boreal forest’s southern edge, the CFC serves as a crucial venue for understanding forest management, ecosystem resilience, and sustainable practices in forest and natural resource management. Located just three miles west of Cloquet and within the Fond du Lac Reservation of Lake Superior Chippewa, the center is instrumental in housing the Sustainable Forests Education Cooperative and the Minnesota Tree Improvement Cooperative, highlighting its integral role in forest education and genetic research.

Open to the public for recreation, provided it doesn’t interfere with research, the CFC is a hub for a broad spectrum of research, education, and forest management projects. These projects span various domains, including silviculture, wildlife populations (focusing on species like wolf, fisher, ruffed grouse), forest genetics, and the broader ecological impacts of climate change on forest productivity. Through these endeavors, the CFC promotes a holistic understanding of forest ecosystems.

Since its inception, the CFC has committed to the ecological, economic, and cultural health of its forests. It aims to foster educational, research, and outreach opportunities, alongside maintaining a diverse forest ecosystem, enhancing wildlife habitat, and preserving water, soil, historical, and cultural resources. The Center employs a blend of active and passive forest management techniques to achieve these goals, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to sustainable forest management and conservation education.

The meeting was an opportunity for citizens of the Fond du Lac Band, foresters, and community members from Cloquet and Carleton County to voice their perspectives directly to university officials. Karen Diver, the University’s Senior Adviser to the President for Native American Affairs, shared insights into a drafted memorandum of understanding between the university and

the band. This document not only outlines the land’s return but also considers the continuation of the forestry center’s research in alignment with the band’s needs.

According to MPR News, Wayne DuPuis, a tribal member, articulated the significance of this act as a restoration of part of the band’s homeland. He reminded attendees of the historical context: the Fond du Lac Band ceded millions of acres to the United States, reserving rights to a fraction of this land for their reservation, rights enshrined in the 1854 treaty but later diminished by

federal legislation in the 1880s.

The discussion of land return occurs against a backdrop of the University of Minnesota’s broader reckoning with its historical injustices against Indigenous peoples, a legacy dating back to its founding in 1851. This reflection has been spurred by investigative reports and research highlighting the university’s profits from lands expropriated from Indigenous communities, lands granted at the time of Minnesota’s statehood.

In response to these revelations, the university has embarked on a journey towards healing, engaging with tribal nations to explore avenues for reparations, including tuition waivers, land returns, and transformative justice projects. This initiative is part of a larger landback movement that seeks to address the historical and ongoing impacts of land dispossession from Native American tribes.

The urgency of this matter was further underscored by a comprehensive report published by University of Minnesota graduate student researchers and tribally appointed fellows in April 2023. The report painstakingly outlines the harms inflicted upon Indigenous communities by the university and calls for ongoing reparations.

Moreover, the collaborative efforts between University of Minnesota foresters, the Fond du Lac Band, and Ojibwe communities across the state have highlighted the importance of integrating cultural practices, such as low-intensity fire stewardship, into forest management. These projects underscore the potential for research at the Cloquet Forestry Center to align with and benefit the band’s cultural and ecological priorities.

The historical context of the land in question is complex, intertwined with federal acts like the Dawes Act and Nelson Act, which facilitated the transfer of tribal lands to non-Indigenous entities, including the university. The land, once reserved under the 1854 Treaty of La Pointe, found its way into the university’s possession, where it has generated significant revenue over the years.

As the University of Minnesota progresses with its plan to return the land to the Fond du Lac Band, there remains no set timeline for this transfer, partly due to shared ownership issues with

the State of Minnesota. However, last week’s listening session, a year following a recommendation to the university’s Board of Regents, signifies a critical step forward in addressing the historical injustices and moving towards a future of mutual respect and cooperation.

This scenario is not isolated to the University of Minnesota but is reflective of a broader national conversation around land-grant universities and their foundations upon lands acquired through the dispossession of Indigenous peoples. With over 10.7 million acres expropriated across the United States following the Morrill Act of 1862, the issue touches many corners of the country, involving numerous institutions and communities.

As the University of Minnesota and the Fond du Lac Band navigate this complex process, the dialogue at the Cloquet Forestry Center serves as a poignant reminder of the deep historical wounds and the ongoing efforts toward healing and reconciliation. The return of the land to the Fond du Lac Band is not merely a transaction but a profound gesture of acknowledgement and respect for the band’s sovereignty and cultural heritage.