11/04/2025

N. WISCONSIN - In an historic act of reparations, Franciscan Sisters have returned Maywood property to the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, marking the first time a Catholic institution has returned Northern Wisconsin land to a tribal nation. The president of the Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration said the transfer presents an opportunity to acknowledge the trauma caused by taking tribal children from their homes and putting them into boarding schools created. Tribal leaders plan to transform the land into a space for spiritual events and education, hoping to revive Ojibwe culture. It is hoped the return will inspire other institutions, creating a ripple effect across the country.