Bold claim: a Kansas Native American tribe faces a moral crossroads as it moves to benefit from a federal contract to design ICE detention facilities, raising questions about heritage, values, and the consequences of doing business with the government. But here’s where it gets controversial: can a tribe pursuing economic development also honor its ancestral history of forced removal and trauma?
A Native American tribe in Kansas, the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, is drawing fire from other tribal groups after its economic development arm secured a $29.9 million federal contract from the Department of Homeland Security to design potential Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities.
The contract was awarded to KPB Services, a subsidiary of Prairie Band LLC—the nation’s economic development arm—in October, prompting criticism that the tribe, whose ancestors were displaced from the Great Lakes region to lands near Topeka in the 1830s, could be seen as benefiting from policies that caused that trauma.
In a video released on Friday, tribal chair Joseph “Zeke” Rupnick confirmed the contract and apologized for the concern, frustration, and confusion it stirred. He said the tribe is exploring all options, including exiting the contract, after consulting with legal counsel.
Rupnick emphasized a painful historical parallel: reservations were among the government’s first detention sites, prompting the question of why the tribe would participate in something that echoes past harms. Following the controversy, the tribe said it had dismissed the leaders who brokered the deal. Ray Rice, a 74-year-old tribal member, told the Associated Press that many felt blindsided and labeled the tribe as traitors by some opponents.
Contributing voices, like Carole Cadue-Blackwood—an enrolled Kickapoo and Prairie Band Potawatomi descendant active in social services—hope the contract dies and have participated in anti-ICE detention center efforts nearby.
Facing the backlash, the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and Prairie Band LLC stated that the DHS contract does not align with their principles and that future engagements will be evaluated against their values and mission.
Questions have been raised about why the Potawatomi’s development arm was chosen for a significant government contract without competitive bidding. Federal rules generally require justification for sole-source contracts above $30 million.
KPB Services was registered in April by Ernest Woodward, the executive vice-president of Prairie Band LLC and a former naval officer who describes himself as a key adviser for tribes seeking federal contracts. Reports indicate the group has positioned itself to pursue government opportunities, a path echoed by similar tribal entities that manage large-sum contracts for detention facilities, security, and border patrol support.
Earlier, reports highlighted other tribal corporations involved in ICE-related operations, including a Canadian-linked Alaska Native corporation running detention facilities at Guantánamo Bay and multiple tribal entities supporting detention facilities in the United States.
The DHS portrays tribal nations as critical partners in homeland security and notes ongoing coordination with federal, state, and local governments as part of its tribal engagement strategy. The arrangement underscores the tension many tribes feel between creating economic opportunities and preserving cultural values, especially as tribes navigate reduced federal funding, inflation, and competition from online gaming.
The broader context includes instances of Native individuals encountering immigration enforcement and the ongoing debate within tribes about how to balance economic benefits from government contracts with impacts on their communities and values. For example, there have been cases where Native people reported negative experiences with federal agents targeting undocumented immigrants, highlighting the real-world complexity of such contracts.
In this environment, tribal leaders face tough choices. Rupnick asserted that veterans understand government work can clash with personal values, and while the tribe’s LLC can engage with the government, choosing not to is sometimes necessary, even if it means risking future contracts.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.
