The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has regained ownership of three parcels of land totaling approximately 87 acres, according to a March 16, 2026, news release. This acquisition, described as the “largest land return in our recent history” by Band Chairman Robert Deschampe, was finalized on February 16, 2026. The project was a joint effort involving the Lloyd K. Johnson (LKJ) Foundation, the B. Van Johnson Trust, and the Minnesota Land Trust. Chairman Deschampe noted in a joint release between the Grand Portage Band and the LKJ Foundation that the return “…carries meaning for our Grand Portage families that goes far beyond just acreage.”

The land return was made possible by a $1.23 million grant from the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation, allowing the Band to purchase the land directly from the B. Van Johnson Trust and other family members. This grant is the largest in the foundation’s history.