Tribal jurisdiction subject of talks

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2003

Tribal, state and federal officials took part in talks on Tuesday to address complicated questions of jurisdiction in Indian Country.

Representatives of the Omaha, Winnebago and Santee tribes attended the event, the first of its kind. It was sponsored by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Nebraska and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Nebraska was subject to Public Law 280, which gave the state civil and criminal jurisdiction over reservation but the state has entered into agreements to return full authority to the tribes.

The issue has heated up in recent weeks on the Omaha Reservation where non-Indians have opposed the powers of tribal police. Some also believe part of the reservation has been diminished to the point that the state has jurisdiction.

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Tribal jurisdiction 'complicated' (The Omaha World-Herald 1/15)