Non-Indians question Omaha jurisdiction bill

Wednesday, February 20, 2008  

Non-Indians in Thurston County, Nebraska, are questioning a bill that would restore the Omaha Tribe's jurisdiction.

The state was granted criminal and civil jurisdiction on the reservation under Public Law 280 in 1953. The state retroceded its jurisdiction in 1969 except for offenses involving the operation of motor vehicles on public roads or highways.

LR234 would complete the retrocession -- something that has already happened for the Winnebago Tribe and the Santee Sioux Tribe. But non-Indians say the bill would lead to more confusion due to an ongoing dispute over the boundaries of the Omaha Reservation.

The Legislature’s Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing on the bill this afternoon.

Get the Story:
Proposal to extend tribal jurisdiction raises boundary issue (AP 2/20)

Get the Bill:
Retrocede jurisdiction over the Omaha Indian Reservation (LR234)

Court Decision:
Pender v. Omaha Tribe (October 4, 2007)

Related Stories:
Lawsuit challenges Omaha Tribe's jurisdiction (1/9)
Omaha Tribe's court to hear non-Indian challenge (10/9)
Omaha Reservation boundaries a source of dispute (4/20)
Omaha Tribe barred from imposing alcohol tax (4/18)
Non-Indians challenge Omaha Tribe's state tax deal (3/29)
Tribes sign cross-deputization agreements with state (08/15)
Omaha Tribe near law enforcement agreement (07/08)
Sheriff says tribe politicizing law enforcement (03/11)
Two tribes in Nebraska raising political awareness (3/10)
Lance Morgan: The politics of fear and racism (02/19)
Non-Indians question Omaha Tribe's jurisdiction (01/21)
White rancher in Neb. arrested by tribe's police (11/21)
Farmer indicted for ramming into Omaha officials (10/24)
Farmer rams tractor into car carrying tribe officials (10/21)
Dispute over Omaha Reservation boundaries simmers (9/5)
More talks planned over jurisdictional tangles (01/16)
Tribal jurisdiction subject of talks (1/15)
State seeks police agreement with tribe (1/9)
Omaha reservation boundary in dispute (1/6)
BIA audit slams Omaha Tribe's police force (5/8)