Motor Vehicles

Applying for a White Earth Identification Card you must present certified documents which are subject to verification and will not be accepted if altered. The Identification card alone is not your license for harvesting of Natural Resources, the Identification Card must be accompanied by an Un-expired Natural Resource Harvest Permit.

Applying for a White Earth Identification Card you must present two of the following documents:

• Minnesota State Driver's License (not accepted if expired by more than 5 years) with full name, and date of birth
• Out of State Driver's License or Identification Card with full name and date of birth.
• Minnesota Identification Card with full name and date of birth
• Certified birth record issued by vital statistics or board of health in the U.S. or Canada
• Valid Un-expired U.S. Pass Port
• Secure, un-expired Minnesota Tribal Identification card with full name and date of birth
• Un-expired U.S. Military Identification card with full name and date of birth
• Certified secondary or post-secondary school transcript
• U.S. Social Security Card or Canadian Social Insurance Card
• Un-expired color photo permit to carry a firearm or concealed weapon, issued by U.S. Police Department
• Certified U.S. or Canadian Court Order with full name and date of birth.
• Government employee photo identification card from a jurisdiction in the U.S. or Canada
• Current identification card issued by the U.S. Department of Justice
• Certified adoption certificate from a U.S. Court
• Certified Government issued-Marriage Certificate

When applying for a Descendant identification card you must bring in a certified birth certificate and one of the above listed documents.

These Identification cards are issued to White Earth Enrolled members that are 16 years old through 54 years old. The identification cards expire every six years or on their 55th birthday, which ever would apply. The Adult Identification Cards have a Yellow color band to indicate adult, and have an expiration date highlighted in red.

Senior Citizen Identification Cards

These Identification cards are issued to White Earth Enrolled members that are 55 years old and older. The cards expire every six years on the card holder birthday. The Senior Citizen Identification cards have a Blue color band to indicate Senior Citizen. The cards have an expiration date highlighted in red, Juvenile/Minor Identification Cards. These identification cards are issued to White Earth Enrolled members between the ages of 12 years old through 15 years old. The Identification Cards expire on their 16th birthday. The identification cards have a Black color band to indicate Juvenile/Minor and the expiration date is highlighted in red.

The Descendant Identification cards are issued to "Enrolled members," children if they are not enrolled. These identification cards have a Purple color band to indicate Descendant. The cards are issued from the age of 12 years old and older. The identification cards expire every six years on the card holder birthday and have an expiration date highlighted in red.

Descendant Identification cards are issued for identification purposes only.

In order to be issued a Natural Resource Harvest Permit, you must be an Enrolled member and have in your possession an Un-Expired Picture Identification Card. The Natural Resource Harvest Permit is issued on an annual basis. When possessing a current Un-expired Picture Identification Card and a Un-expired Natural Resource Harvest Permit it permits you to;

• Hunt (Big game, small Game, Waterfowl) hungters must have a game tag for big game
• Trapping
• Fish (by angling, spearing, netting and fish house/dark house shelters)
• Harvest Wild Rice

(Within Season and Limits as set forth by the White Earth Reservation Tribal Council) The Natural Resource Harvest Permit is not valid for commercial activities.

A Bough Harvesting Permit issued by the White Earth Licensing Department is required for any removal of balsam fir boughs from White Earth Tribal Lands. Permittees must be an enrolled member of the White Earth Band of Chippewa to obtain a Bough Harvesting Permit.

Each person in the harvesting party must have in his/her possession, and on his/her person, a current/unexpired Tribal Identification Card, and valid Natural Resource Harvest Permit, and a Bough Harvest Permit during harvesting.

People under the age of 18 do not require an individual permit but must be accompanied by a permitted adult. Permitted adults will be responsible and liable for the actions of the minor.

For further information on rules and regulations on the above listed harvesting activity, please refer to the Judicial Services Web Page under legal codes and refer to the White Earth Conservation Code.

All persons that are 12 years of age or older involved in the tending of leech traps must have in his/her possession and on his/her person a valid unexpired picture identification card, a valid unexpired natural resource harvest permit, and a valid commercial leech and minnow license.

The authority to take leeches under this permit is non-transferable.

Permittee may start leeching on March 31 and continue until October 31 of each year.

For further rules and regulations on the above listed activity please refer to the Judicial Services Web Page under legal codes and refer to the White Earth Conservation Code.

The seasonal resource use permit is issued to individuals that are enrolled in other federally recognized tribes. The fees for these permits vary depending upon whether the individual is a resident or non-resident of White Earth Reservation. This permit is issued for all of the following activities;

Deer Hunting, bear hunting, fishing, netting, small game, waterfowl, trapping and harvesting of wild rice (excluding Lower Rice Lake and The Tamarac Wildlife Refuge).

When applying for this permit the individual must bring in their enrollment card from the tribe they are enrolled in, along with an identification card with their current address.

General Information

All vehicles owned by enrolled residents of White Earth Reservation shall have the option to register their motor vehicle with the White Earth Motor Vehicle Department. Members enrolled in another federally recognized Indian tribe, that reside here within the White Earth Reservation Boundaries, have the option to register their motor vehicles with the White Earth Motor Vehicle Department. Students (White Earth Enrolled), attending college, or post secondary schools, with parents or legal guardians residing within the White Earth Reservation Boundaries are eligible to register their vehicles here with White Earth Department of Motor Vehicles.

What is a title transfer?
A vehicle Title is a legal document and verifies legal ownership of your vehicle. When you purchase a vehicle, in order to transfer ownership you will need a title to legally complete the process. You the buyer have 10 days from the date of purchase to title the vehicle and transfer ownership into your name. It is imperative that you house your title in a safe location.

Vehicle Purchasing and Sales Tax
Vehicles that require licensing to drive on Minnesota roads are not taxable when sold to enrolled members of White Earth Reservation if both of the following conditions are met: (All-Terrain Vehicles are not included in exemption)

• The purchaser lives on the Reservation and
• The sale occurs on the Reservation. A sale occurs on the Reservation if papers are signed on the Reservation, payment is made on the reservation, or the vehicle is delivered to the purchaser on the Reservation.

Registration & Title Transfer
New Cars
The vehicle dealer will manage and submit the title papers to the White Earth Department of Motor Vehicles. You must bring with you, your drivers license, and insurance information to the White Earth Department of Motor Vehicle to transfer ownership and receive your plates and stickers.

Old Cars

• Complete the purchaser section on the title; make sure to include your full name, date of birth and address.
• If you have a lien on the vehicle complete the section with the lien holders name, address, and date you took out the lien on the vehicle.
• If the previous registered owner (name printed on title), had a lien on the vehicle, be sure that the lien release is attached to the title (if applicable), or duly released on the certificate of title (if applicable).
• Bring the completed title, valid driver's license and proof of insurance to the White Earth Department of Motor Vehicles; pay the required fees to complete the transfer.