Local Ojibwe Agree on Federal Settlement

(AP)  A deal that would right a wrong that ocurred in the 1800's would benefit the Leech Lake and Mille Lacs band of Ojibwe.

Federal legislation is making headway in Washington that would release $28 million to six northern MN bands including the two local bands.

The settlement is for unscrupulous deals that drastically reduced the land controlled by the native Americans by 1900.  The money was orginally awarded in 1999, but has taken this long for the tribes to reach a deal on how to divide the funds.

Senator Al Franken and Congressmen Chip Cravaack and Collin Peterson have pushed to release the funds.