Land exchange with Chippewa Cree Tribe explored

Representatives from the Chippewa Cree Tribe received preliminary approval from the Land Board to explore what could be a significant land exchange to trade or sell state lands within the Rocky Boy Reservation.

Following more than two years of work between DNRC and the Tribe, the initial proposal is to trade 320 acres of farmland about 18 miles northwest of Box Elder for at least a portion of the 1440 acres of state-owned grazing lands within tribal boundaries.

Tribal Councilman Rick Morisette told the Board that the exchange is important to the Tribe in its attempt to consolidate their holdings within tribal boundaries.  Also, because of the distance, it is difficult to transport farm machinery to work the tribally-owned farmland.  He provided information on the current revenues produced by the farmland and grazing leases, acknowledging that the acreage is "lopsided," but that the tribally-owned farmland produces about ten times more revenue per year than the state-owned grazing leases.

Secretary of State Brad Johnson said: "I certainly agree it is in the Tribe's and state's best interest to consolidate these landholdings" and asked if it would be feasible for DNRC to work with the Tribe to look at purchasing the state in-holdings through the Land Banking program as part of the preliminary evaluation and DNRC Director Sexton said they could certainly do that.  

State Auditor John Morrison said he was "a strong supporter of consolidating lands within the Reservation" and noted "the federal government should provide a lot more resources than they do for consolidation of fee lands within the boundaries of the Reservation."  He noted, however, that under their rules and obligations, the Board could not deplete the overall acreage of the Trust and would have to look for ways to "make the Trust whole in terms of acreage."

The Board unanimously voted for preliminary approval and now the process will move into the formal appraisal of the lands and their assets.