Indian Country

North Dakota contains all or part of four Indian reservations:   the Fort Berthold Reservation, home of the Three Affiliated Tribes (the Mandan, the Hidatsa, and the Arikara); the Spirit Lake Reservation, home of the Spirit Lake Tribe; the Standing Rock Reservation, home of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe; and the Turtle Mountain Reservation, home to the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. A small amount of tribal trust land belonging to the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribe also exists in southeastern North Dakota, although the vast majority of the tribal trust land is located in South Dakota.

The North Dakota United States Attorney’s Office prosecutes all violent crimes that occur within these reservations. These offenses include murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, maiming, incest, assault with the intent to commit murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault resulting in serious injury, assault against an individual less than 16 years of age, arson, burglary, robbery, aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, sexual abuse of a minor, abusive sexual contact, sexual abuse resulting in death, and other offenses as outlined in 18 U.S.C. § 1153.

According to the 2010 Census, North Dakota has approximately 36,500 people (5.4 percent of the population) who consider themselves Native American.  This number increases when people who consider themselves part Native American are added.  In 2009 the North Dakota State Data Center reported an estimated 43,167 people in North Dakota considered themselves all or part Native American. 

North Dakota U.S. Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon has made Indian Country relations, safety, and civil rights a high priority. Purdon and his staff have conducted extensive consultations with tribal leaders, and have developed an Anti-Violence Strategy to combat the public safety issues facing those who live in Indian Country. In addition, Purdon and his staff have worked to increase communication between the federal government and tribal communities by sponsoring an annual Tribal Listening Conference and focusing on youth outreach.

North Dakota United States Attorney’s Office
Recent Indian Country Initiatives

Operations Plan:  Anti-Violence Strategy for Tribal Communities

U.S. Attorney Op-ed: VAWA Provides More Tools to Fight
Domestic Violence on North Dakota Reservations

DOJ VAWA Tribal Jurisdiction Implementation Information

U.S. Attorneys Timothy Q. Purdon and Sanford C. Coats to Lead Attorney General's Native American Issues Subcommittee

DOJ Native American Issues Subcommittee Meeting in Bismarck, September, 12-13, 2012

First Annual Review of Anti-Violence Strategy, July 23, 2012

Offering Hope To Victims In The Spirit of Justice Conference
July 17 – 18, 2012

One Year in Indian Country

Second Tribal Consultation Conference: April 26, 2012

Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole Visits Standing Rock Reservation and Second Tribal Listening Conference: April 26, 2012

Purdon Named Vice Chair of NAIS

USAOND Outreach to Native Youth

Domestic Violence:  U.S. Attorney Op-ed

Protecting the Civil Rights of Native Americans

First Tribal Listening Conference: March 16, 2011