OMAHA- After the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bill last week that will return 1,600 acres of appropriated land to the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, advocates and tribe members are celebrating the righting of this five-decade-old wrong. The land, which was taken by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1970s, rests along the Missouri River.

"That was pretty exciting news," said Winnebago tribal spokesman Garen Coons, "We held a victory celebration the day it passed--brought drums out, sang some victory songs." Another celebration is planned after President Joe Biden signs the bill into law. Coons said that bills to restore the land to the Tribe have been introduced in Congress since 2017.

This year's bill, introduced by U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer and co-sponsored by Sen. Pete Ricketts and Iowa Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, finally crossed the finish line. The land, which had been managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, will remain as conservation land, according to Coons. The only difference is that those seeking to hunt on the property must now obtain a tribal hunting permit.

For the full article click HERE