For Immediate Release
LUTSEN MOUNTAINS REQUESTS DEFERRAL ON DECISION OF PROPOSAL
Family owners wish to pursue collaboration with local Tribes and forest service officials.
Lutsen, MN (July 30, 2023) – The family that owns Lutsen Mountains, part of Midwest Family Ski Resorts, has submitted a letter to the Superior National Forest Supervisor Thomas Hall requesting a deferral of a decision on its proposal for expansion of the ski resort operation onto 500 acres of Forest Service land that local Tribes retain rights to under the 1854 Treaty.
The request by Charles Skinner, President and Owner Midwest Family Ski Resorts, and his daughter Charlotte Skinner, Chief of Staff, comes on the heels of an historic Memorandum of Understanding signed by the US Forest Service with three Chippewa Tribes in May.
“We commend Forest Supervisor Hall and the three Chippewa Tribes for agreeing to an MOU that will usher in a new era of government-to-government relations and respect,” stated Charles Skinner.
“The Forest Service’s approach toward Tribal retained rights has changed significantly since we began our process”, explained Charlotte Skinner. “We welcome the shift to honor Tribal rights in our region and believe it is long overdue.”
“While we wish the MOU had been in place from the start”, continued Charlotte Skinner, “our decision is to pull back our proposal and start afresh under the MOU principles. We desire to ensure that a modified proposal would include a clear net benefit for the retained rights of the Chippewa Tribes. We have no timetable and understand that engagement with the Treaty parties will require considerable time. Our only goal is to take the time that is needed to find a solution that will benefit the Tribes, the community, and the public.”
For further information contact:
Charlotte Skinner,
Chief of Staff
Lutsen Mountains
charlotte@midwestfamilyskiresorts.com
218-940-9555
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About Lutsen Mountains and Midwest Family Ski Resorts
Founded in 1948, Lutsen Mountains was the first and remains the largest and highest ski area in Minnesota with 95 trails spread across four peaks of the ancient Sawtooth Mountain range. The ski area offers 180-degree blue-water views of the world’s largest lake, Lake Superior. Midwest Family Ski Resorts also owns Granite Peak Ski Resort in Wisconsin and Snowriver Mountain Resort in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.