The Turtle Mountain Reservation was created by President Chester Arthur through executive orders. The agreement was signed in 1892 and ratified in 1904.  Section VI of the 1904 act states that “any members of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa who are unable to secure land upon the reservation above ceded, may take homesteads upon any vacant land belonging to the United States without charge, and shall continue to hold and be entitled to such share in all tribal funds, annuities, or other property, the same as if located on the reservation.”

The 1935 Trenton Project was a plan to move Indians largely to the Trenton Indian Service Area, when the boundaries of the Turtle Mountain Reservation were decreased.

In 1973, the Turtle Mountain Tribes approved Resolution # 744-07-73 which stated that they were in favor of an establishment of a service area to serve the Williston-Trenton people.

In 1981 The Turtle Mountain Tribe passed Ordinance 28 which provides for the formation of Trenton Indian Service Area to provide for the health and wellbeing of Turtle Mountain Tribal members.  This ordinance has been amended to Ordinance 28A, and Ordinance 28B, and finally to Title 28 of the Turtle Mountain Tribe.