Opinion ID: 1592875
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Provisions of the treaty govern.

Text: Prior to 1953 the states had no jurisdiction over crimes occurring on Indian lands. In that year Congress enacted Public Law 280, codified as 18 U. S. C., sec. 1162, entitled State Jurisdiction over offenses committed by or against Indians in the Indian country. This statute generally gives the state jurisdiction over crimes committed on Indian reservations. Par. (b) of this statute, however, provides: (b) Nothing in this section shall authorize the alienation, encumbrance, or taxation of any real or personal property, including water rights, belonging to any Indian or any Indian tribe, band, or community that is held in trust by the United States or is subject to a restriction against alienation imposed by the United States; or shall authorize regulation of the use of such property in a manner inconsistent with any Federal treaty, agreement, or statute or with any regulation made pursuant thereto; or shall deprive any Indian or any Indian tribe, band, or community of any right, privilege, or immunity afforded under Federal treaty, agreement, or statute with respect to hunting, trapping, or fishing or the control, licensing, or regulation thereof. Therefore, it is clear that this statute does not affect any treaty rights. Even before the statute, however, the Supreme Court of the United States made clear in Missouri v. Holland [7] that under the supremacy clause of the constitution, federal treaty law prevails over state law. Thus an interpretation of the 1854 treaty is required on these appeals.