1.1A house concurrent resolution
1.2recognizing the Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa as a state recognized
1.3Indian tribe.
1.4WHEREAS, the Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa Indians are descendants of
1.5and political successors to the signatories of the treaties of 1825, 1826, 1837, 1842, 1847, 1854,
1.61855, 1863, 1864, and 1867 with the United States of America, those treaties having been
1.7negotiated to achieve peace and friendship between the Indian people of the constituent bands and
1.8the United States of America; and
1.9WHEREAS, the Sandy Lake Band consists of approximately 250 members who continue to
1.10reside close to their ancestral homeland, as recognized in the 1855 Treaty with the Chippewa at 7
1.11Statutes at Large 591 and 10 Statutes at Large 1165, near the town of McGregor in Aitkin County,
1.12Minnesota, and throughout Minnesota; and
1.13WHEREAS, the Sandy Lake Band historically existed, and continues to exist and carry out
1.14political and social activities with a viable tribal government as a separate and distinct Indian
1.15tribe; and
1.16WHEREAS, the Sandy Lake Band has a historical precedence that exists to support state
1.17recognition which dates back to at least 1794; and
1.18WHEREAS, the Sandy Lake Band is also a beneficiary of Executive Order No. 2144 signed
1.19by President Woodrow Wilson on March 4, 1915, that established a reservation at Sandy Lake
1.20and also reaffirmed the Sandy Lake Ojibwe's right of occupancy on the Sandy Lake Reservation
1.21located on Lots 2 and 3 of Section 32, Township 50 North, Range 23 West, Fourth Principal
1.22Meridian in Aitkin County, Minnesota; and
2.1WHEREAS, the Sandy Lake Band finds and determines that the treaties that are applicable
2.2to any constituent signatory bands whose members are also descendants of the signatories of the
2.3treaties referred to in clause (1) of peace and friendship with the United States of America have
2.4been recognized by the federal government as distinct Indian tribes; and
2.5WHEREAS, the Sandy Lake Band never relinquished separate inherent rights to be
2.6self-governing and therefore possesses the sovereign right to autonomy; and
2.7WHEREAS, the United States government and the local government have had continuous
2.8dealings with the recognized political leaders of the band from 1825 to the present; and
2.9WHEREAS, the Aitkin County commissioners, all members voting "yes" adopted a
2.10resolution supporting the Sandy Lake Band as a governmental entity to be established as a tribe in
2.11a reservation separate and apart from all other Ojibwe bands in Minnesota; NOW, THEREFORE,
2.12BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the State of Minnesota, the Senate
2.13concurring, that it recognizes the Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa Indians as an
2.14independent tribe, separate and apart from any other state or federally recognized tribe or Indian
2.15community.
2.16BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives is
2.17directed to prepare an enrolled copy of this resolution, to be authenticated by his signature
2.18and those of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chair of the Senate Rules and
2.19Administration Committee, and the Secretary of the Senate, and transmit it to the Sandy Lake
2.20Band of Mississippi Chippewa Indians.
