Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Judgment Fund Distribution Act of 2007

H.R. 2306, the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Judgment Fund Distribution Act of 2007, establishes a process for distributing settlement funds awarded to the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe following long-standing legal claims against the United States. The bill authorizes the Department of the Interior to reimburse six specific bands—Boise Forte, Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, Leech Lake, Mille Lacs, and White Earth—for the legal and expert witness fees they paid during decades of litigation.

For the members of these tribal nations, the bill requires an update of membership rolls to ensure all eligible living members are included in the distribution process. Once the funds are divided among the bands, each tribal government is responsible for developing its own plan to use or distribute the money for the benefit of its community. This legislation aims to finalize the settlement of historical grievances by ensuring the financial awards reach the intended tribal entities and their members.