Amid safety concerns, federal government puts land into trust for Prairie Island Indian Community

After a ruling by the federal government last week, the Prairie Island Indian Community can start preparing to move its gaming operations — should that be necessary. 

Last week, the U.S. Department of the Interior placed hundreds of acres of land owned by the Prairie Island Indian Community into trust for the tribe. 

The ruling would allow for the Prairie Island Indian Community to build an “interim gaming facility” in the event of an emergency. The Prairie Island Indian Community currently operates the Treasure Island Resort & Casino on its land northwest of Red Wing. 

Prairie Island’s application was spurred by the tribe’s concerns that “catastrophic” flooding or an incident from the nearby nuclear power plant would render their casino inoperable. The tribe’s land is located next to Xcel Energy’s Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, and flooding from the nearby Mississippi River has increased during the past several years. 

The land put into trust last week is 35 miles south of the existing reservation. 

Prairie Island purchased 1,200 acres in Olmsted County in 2019. Of that purchase, about 400 acres were put into trust. The land is located near the Olmsted-Goodhue county line along U.S. Highway 52.  

Grant Johnson, president of Prairie Island Indian Community Council, said he is grateful for the support Prairie Island’s application has received over the past year from federal, state and local government, according to a statement made last Friday. 

“Having land in trust status recognizes our sovereignty and allows us to participate in federal programs and opportunities for business development, housing and environmental and cultural protection that wouldn’t be available if the land isn’t in trust,” Johnson said in the statement. 

The ruling comes after Prairie Island asked the federal government to place the land into trust just over a year ago.  

The fee-to-trust process allows the federal government to acquire legal title to the land the tribe owns and hold it in trust for a tribal nation. A tribal nation can then use and manage the land for its citizens' benefit. Land that becomes a part of the tribe’s land base is then subject to the laws and policies that govern tribal lands. 

In his statement, Johnson said the federal government’s ruling brings Prairie Island a step closer to a safer alternative site for the tribe’s gaming business.  

“Taking this land into trust for the Prairie Island Indian Community is an important step forward in providing a more secure future for our next generations,” Johnson said. 

Johnson said Prairie Island has no immediate plans to start developing the trust land in Olmsted County. 

“For decades, Tribal leaders have sought to provide members with an option to live as a community and raise their families in ways consistent with who we are as Dakota people, at a safer distance from the ongoing threats we face,” Johnson said. 

Johnson said Prairie Island is awaiting a decision on a second application to the federal government to place several hundred more acres into trust.