Grand Portage seeks to reclaim former tribal land known as Passion Pit

Chairman Bobby Deschampe

While the commissioners are working through a committee to figure out if the county wants to seek ownership of the Passion Pit beach site from the Minnesota Department of Transportation who now hold title to the property, the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has petitioned the state to return the land to the band.

Tribal Chair Robert (Bobby) Deschampe told commissioners the band had put in a petition a couple of weeks ago with the state asking for the land to be put in trust for Grand Portage. Deschampe said the land would then be available for the people of Grand Portage and for anyone else who wants to use it.

The land in question was once part of Chippewa City. In the 1890’s about 100 Ojibwa families lived there but when Highway 61 came through, much of the community’s housing was removed and the Ojibwa village began to disappear. By 1935, the last service was held at the St. Francis Xavier Church, which is now maintained by the Cook County Historical Society and is on the National Register of Historical Places.

Minnesota Department of Transportation District One Engineer, Duane Hill said the land in question covers 1.85 acres. When asked if this type of land transfer has occurred before between the state and Grand Portage, Hill responded, “In past history, MnDOT has conveyed property within the boundaries of the Grand Portage Reservation to Grand Portage. One example would be the old travel information center/rest area.”

“Statute 161.44 allows MnDOT to sell to any political subdivision, Indian Tribal government or agency of the state. MnDOT’s Office of Land Management Conveyance Unit has completed one transaction with a Tribal Government along TH 274 that was accomplished by an agreement.” Hill was asked what kind of general timeline would be expected for discussions and a decision to be made by the state?

“From start to finish, the process takes 12 months with no complications and up to 24 months with complications. An example of a complication would be contaminated soils and clean up,” he said.

Making the final determination about the property, said Hill, would be, “The Commissioner or their Delegation.”