A settlement will enable the Bureau of Indian Affairs to acquire 725 acres in trust for the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community of Minnesota.

The city of Shakopee agreed to the deal and will drop its lawsuit against the BIA. In exchange, the agency has promised to seek more input and cooperation from the city for future tribal land-into-trust applications

The tribe sought to have the land placed in trust for more than a decade. During the Clinton administration, the BIA rejected the application, saying the wealthy tribe didn't prove it needed the land.

After appeals and reconsiderations, the tribe won approval in June 2007. The BIA put off acquiring the land until a settlement was reached.

Get the Story:
Council approves settlement ending land-trust dispute (The Shakopee News 12/3)

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