Concerns raised as Illinois lawmakers approve returning land to Native American tribe

A measure that transfers an Illinois state park to a Native American tribe is being criticized as a Democratic land grab.

Before adjourning the 103rd Illinois General Assembly, the Illinois House took up Senate Bill 867 that would transfer ownership of Shabbona Lake State Park to the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. Sponsors of the legislation say the land in DeKalb County was illegally seized and auctioned off by the U.S. government in the 1800s.

State Rep. Will Guzzardi, D-Chicago, sponsored the legislation, but doesn’t represent the affected district.

“We are correcting a nearly 200-year-old injustice by returning this land to the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation,” Guzzardi said.

Guzzardi was criticized by several lawmakers for interfering with a district that he doesn’t represent, including by state Rep. Norine Hammond, R-Macomb, who said the chamber had reached a new low.

“This is not for us as Illinois representatives to be deciding,” said Hammond. “This is a federal government issue and we need to butt out.”

The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation became the first federally recognized Native American nation in Illinois nearly a year ago.

“With this historic vote, Illinois has taken a meaningful step toward righting that wrong. We are deeply grateful for the leadership, dedication and commitment of the Illinois Legislature and the many individuals who worked tirelessly to make this possible,” said Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Chairman Joseph “Zeke” Rupnick in a statement.

State Rep. Brad Fritts, R-Dixon, who represents the affected district, said there are many glaring issues with the legislation.

“Unfortunately, the majority party in Springfield decided that winning political points should supersede crafting good public policy on what may be one of the most critical pieces of legislation this Assembly has ever seen,” said Fritts. “There was no regard for local residents, for the taxpayers of Illinois, or for the landowners who are now in legal limbo regarding their ownership of this land.”