As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday this year, we are reminded of the ideals that define our nation: that all citizens possess unalienable rights and deserve equal treatment under the law. These principles, rooted in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, represent an enduring promise of justice and equality. And while we may not always live fully up to these ideals, we must continuously strive toward them.
It is no surprise that Nebraska is home to people who possess the determination and grit to keep pursuing these ideals, recognizing our nation is strongest when we continue working to fulfill its highest promises. This spirit of perseverance is exemplified by the Winnebago Tribe.
In the mid-1800s, the Winnebago Tribe faced forced removal from their homeland in the Great Lakes region. After settling on the Winnebago Reservation in northeast Nebraska in 1865, the federal government promised the land to the tribe forever. In 1970, the government broke that promise.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers condemned 1,600 acres of this land for a proposed recreation project that was never even started. The Corps did this without seeking congressional authorization, which is required under federal law. This led to over half of century of legal battles between the tribe and the U.S. government — decades in which the tribe sought justice for land that should have never been taken from them in the first place.
Through it all, the people of the Winnebago Tribe never gave up.
In 2023, I introduced the Winnebago Land Transfer Act to transfer the land to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, who would hold the 1,600 acres in trust for the tribe. This bill was a direct response to the injustice that had been imposed on the Winnebago Tribe by our own government. I was proud to invite then-Chairwoman Victoria Kitcheyan to testify in front of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, where she shared a firsthand account of what the tribe has faced.
Ultimately, our bill passed the House, received unanimous support in the Senate, and was enacted into law. After decades of diligent work, the Winnebago Tribe has finally reclaimed what was taken from them.
And last week, the tribe celebrated the enactment of the Winnebago Land Transfer Act. Tribal leadership, members, and the community gathered for a land blessing, lunch, performances, and presentations. Each guest went home with a glass jar of soil from the reclaimed land, a tangible piece of a victory more than 50 years in the making.
The Winnebago Tribe’s story reminds us that our nation’s ideals are not fulfilled simply because they are written in our founding documents. Rather, they are fulfilled when we confront our failures and correct them. And at the heart of that work is perseverance – the courage to keep fighting, even when the path to justice is long. It has been an honor to witness the persistence, determination, and commitment of the Winnebago Tribe.
Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.
