The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe has launched a sweeping lawsuit against 3M Co., BASF Corp., The Chemours Co. FC, Corteva Inc., and Tyco Fire Products, claiming the chemical manufacturers unleashed a toxic legacy of forever chemicals that have seeped into the tribe’s drinking water, fish, and sacred lands.
In a complaint filed and later removed to federal court by Tyco, the tribe alleges extensive contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — long-lasting synthetic compounds tied to cancer, liver disease, and developmental harm. Tests revealed PFAS levels in the tribe’s lands far exceeding federal, state, and tribal safety limits, including in the water supply feeding Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School, according to the filing.
‘Forever Chemicals’ Found Across Tribal Lands
The tribe’s complaint names Hillyard Seal Finish, a floor wax product used at the school that allegedly contains PFAS made by the defendants, as one contamination source. Another, the suit says, is aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) — a firefighting substance used for decades at airports and facilities upstream from Leech Lake.
According to the filing, PFAS from these products have migrated through landfills, wastewater systems, and composting sites, eventually finding their way into Leech Lake’s groundwater, surface water, fish, and wildlife — essential resources for the Ojibwe community.
“The companies have known for decades about PFAS toxicity,” the tribe alleges, “yet continued to market and distribute their products despite clear evidence of harm.”
The contamination, the complaint adds, will force the tribe to spend millions on testing, environmental cleanup, and medical monitoring for conditions linked to PFAS exposure.
