Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, Shabbona residents react to state park land transfer

SHABBONA – A bill that now heads to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk will transfer ownership of 1,500 acres of stolen land in southern DeKalb County, which includes all of Shabbona Lake State Park, back to the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.

The 175-year-land saga came to a climax Tuesday night when the Illinois Senate passed the legislation.

Joseph “Zeke” Rupnick, chairman of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, said Wednesday morning that it was hard for him to immediately appreciate the magnitude of the state Legislature’s decision.

“It’s kind of hard to describe,” Rupnick said of the passed legislation. “I don’t even think it really has sunk in yet, of the significance of what this means.”

Shabbona Village President Don Goncher said the village has worked with the Potawatomi Nation for the past 20 years, as the Nation long sought to regain land in southern DeKalb County stolen from Potawatomi Chief Shab-eh-nay in 1849.

“We have supported what the Potawatomi are doing,” Goncher said.

After 175 years, we’re able to return back to the homeland that we originally inhabited.”

—  Joseph “Zeke” Rupnick, chairman of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation

The Potawatomi Nation and other tribes ceded land in northern Illinois in a treaty signed July 29, 1829, commonly known as the Second Treaty of Prairie du Chien; however, Potawatomi Chief Shab-eh-nay and his band at their village near Paw Paw Grove were allowed to keep two parcels of land, totaling 1,280 acres. That land became known as the Shab-eh-nay Band Reservation.

Rupnick and generations of his family have argued that in 1849, while Shab-eh-nay was visiting relatives who had been forced to move to Kansas, the land known as the Shab-eh-nay Band Reservation was stolen when the General Land Office of the U.S. sold the property at a public auction.

In April, portions of the Shab-eh-nay Reservation were placed into a trust for the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation by the U.S. Department of Interior, making the first federally recognized tribal land in Illinois an enclave in DeKalb County. That portion of land did not include Shabbona Lake State Park, but it spurred some Shabbona residents and park users to rally against any future change in ownership of the state park.

Shabbona Township resident Peter Dordal leads a group called DeKalb County Taxpayers Against the Casino. Dordal has repeatedly questioned the authenticity of the Potawatomi Nation’s claims to the tribal land. The land belongs to the Nation, however, according to the federal government.

“The people of Illinois are losing a state park, and that’s the bottom line for us,” Dordal said.

Public access to the land is not expected to change in the long term. A requirement of the Shabbona Lake State Park land conveyance is that the park remain open for public access. The Potawatomi Nation also must enter into a land management agreement with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, according to the bill.

Nation representatives have repeatedly said they do not intend to limit public access to the park and that they have no plans to build a casino on the land.

The ownership transfer next heads to Pritzker’s desk for his signature.

“Now, really, the hard work begins because part of the legislation included a management agreement between the state and the Nation,” Rupnick said. “We’re going to have to kind of work through that before any transfer takes effect. And that has always been the Nation’s commitment to the General Assembly, to the state, to DNR, to all of our supporters, even our opponents – that we are committed to keeping that park open.”

There are numerous steps left before the land officially can be transferred, but pushback from Shabbona village officials is not expected, Goncher said.

Goncher said he and other village leaders still have questions about the land transfer, noting that they’ve had nothing to do with the matter but they support the change.

“We will work with the Potawatomi in their efforts because I think it will, in some way – somehow it’s going to benefit the community, one way or the other,” Goncher said.

Rupnick said he hopes few notice the change.

“One of the commitments that we made to the general legislature or the General Assembly here in Springfield was that for the average citizen, they should see no change or would not even realize that transfer of land had taken place,” Rupnick said. “Everything should go as smoothly as possible, and I know that that’s one of the things that I’m working toward.”

Former resident Becky Oest and her husband won’t be in Shabbona to see what the transfer amounts to. They decided to move to Leland because of the ongoing land dispute. They sold their Shabbona home to the tribe.

“My husband and I sold our dream home because we knew this was coming,” Oest wrote to Shaw Local. “We do not want to raise a family in an area with so many uncertainties. I am very grateful to the tribe because they purchased our home. Nobody else even made an offer. Who wants to purchase a home with no guarantees of the future of Shabbona?”

Other state officials have been vocal about the legislation.

In a statement after arguing against its passage Tuesday night, state Rep. Bradley Fritts, R-Dixon, said he was deeply concerned by the bill’s passing.

“The bill does not include any regulations surrounding the type of development permitted,” Fritts said in a news release. “The bill also does not address that the state of Illinois is giving away a state park, worth tens of millions of dollars, without regard for the taxpayer or the residents who utilize the park.”

The market value of the land given to the Potawatomi Nation is $14.25 million, according to the bill.

Fritts said the bill does not include any protections for landowners who currently reside on land included in the land transfer agreement.

Rupnick disagrees, however.

“I know that our representative, Rep. Fritts, who is in that district, has been working actively to lobby against us,” Rupnick said. “The thing that was misleading is there are no residents that actually live in the state park – none whatsoever. So his message of what he was trying to get across is patently false.”

Rupnick reiterated that the Nation doesn’t have an interest in building a casino on the land. In the past, he has said the area lacks transportation infrastructure for a casino and would compete for patrons with casinos in Rockford and Aurora. He said a casino also would require another act of the state Legislature to enter into negotiations with the governor to build one.

“If we were to do something on the land that is currently in trust outside of the park, we would hope that we would build a facility that would enhance the experience for those folks that do come out and visit the park,” Rupnick said.

The Potawatomi Nation has not captured the ire of all local residents who’ve spoken against the Shabbona State Park land transfer. Oest wrote that her frustration is with the Illinois government and not with the Nation.

“Everyone has a right to fight for what they believe is theirs to fight for,” Oest wrote. “I can only hope that the tribe stands by their word, and our government takes all the next steps to help protect the park and the community.”

Rupnick said he understands that others have made their homes near the land that was stolen from his ancestor. He said he wants to continue to build the Potawatomi Nation’s relationship with Shabbona stakeholders.

“After 175 years, we’re able to return back to the homeland that we originally inhabited,” Rupnick said. “We’re looking forward to working with the state, we’re looking forward to working with the DNR and Gov. Pritzker’s administration to continue to build those relationships and continue working to make our presence known.”