Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Shab-eh-nay Band Reservation Settlement Act of 2023

The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Shab-eh-nay Band Reservation Settlement Act of 2023 resolves a historical land dispute by affirming the Tribe's ownership of approximately 129 acres (the "Repurchased Lands") within a 1,280-acre reservation in Illinois. It ends the Tribe's legal ownership of the remaining reservation land, confirming that the State of Illinois, Dekalb County, and other non-Indian occupants have clear title to that land as of 1849. The bill requires the Tribe to waive all claims against the U.S. government and these occupants, and provides $50 million over five years for the Tribe to support economic development and acquire up to 1,151 additional acres within the reservation or a designated "Replacement Area." This settlement aims to address historical injustices while clarifying land ownership for the Tribe and surrounding communities.