As of 12:01am Thursday morning, the Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska resumed full civil and criminal jurisdiction on its reservation.

The tribe fell under Public Law 280, which granted the state of Nebraska jurisdiction in Indian Country. But the state voted to retrocede in 2001, a move that was finally approved by the Interior Department on Tuesday.

"This is a great day for the Santee Sioux Nation and its tribal members," Santee Sioux Chairman Roger Trudell said. "It serves as an affirmation of the tribe's inherent sovereignty and jurisdiction over its reservation lands."

The tribe has signed cooperative agreements for law enforcement with Knox County and the state of Nebraska.

Get the Story:
It's The Law In Santee (The Yankton Press & Dakotan 2/17)
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Relevant Links:
Santee Sioux Tribe - http://www.santeedakota.org

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