The White Earth Band of Ojibwe wants the state of Minnesota to cede its jurisdiction over the reservation.

Congress granted criminal and civil jurisdiction to the state under Public Law 280. Tribal leaders say the state hasn't lived up to its obligations.

"That has presented both inadequate law enforcement and bad law enforcement as far as we're concerned," Chairwoman Erma Vizenor told Minnesota Public Radio. "It all depends on the political whims of a sheriff or county commissioners. Our people deserve better than that."

Public Law 280 contains a provision for states to "retrocede" their jurisdiction. The tribe is preparing a criminal code in anticipation of reclaiming all of its authority, a move that is raising eyebrows among local law enforcement officials.

Get the Story:
White Earth prepares criminal code to replace state law (Minnesota Public Radio 10/6)