[3] Established in 1867 in a treaty between Sisseton-Wahpeton Bands and the United States government, the reservation, at 47°54′38″N 98°53′01″W / 47.91056°N 98.88361°W / 47.91056; -98.88361, consists of 1,283.777 square kilometres (495.669 sq mi) of land area, primarily in Benson and Eddy counties.

[4] The name "Devils Lake" is a calque of the Dakota words mni (water) wak’áŋ (literally "pure source", also translated as "spirit" or "sacred").

[6] The "bad" referred to the high salinity of the lake, making it unfit to drink, and "spirit" meant the mirages often seen across the water.

[8] Tribal chairperson, Myra Pearson, appealed in the 21st century to President Barack Obama and his White House for assistance.

Since then tribal representatives have engaged with a multi-agency task force led by Federal Emergency Management Agency officials to develop a recovery plan.

[8] Prior to the reservation era, Dakota tribal societies were without social classes and government was democratic and highly decentralized.

Fraternal societies played a role in maintaining a government structure known as the council and prior to the reservation era, no single person was in charge of decision-making.

In 1944, the tribe submitted its constitution for ratification and was approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the tribal headquarters is at Fort Totten.

Contemporary leadership Beginning in 2012, tribal and federal authorities focused on reducing child sexual abuse, which was identified as endemic on the reservation.

[12] On October 1, 2012, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) took over the tribe's social services program to strengthen protection of children.

In February 2013, the two North Dakota senators and a representative met with tribal officials and members at a town hall meeting at Spirit Lake to discuss reforms underway, including fingerprinting of all adults living with foster children (a requirement that had not been satisfied before).

[16] In February 2019 it was announced that the tribe had successfully completed steps to regain full control of the tribal child welfare program.

[17] Chairwoman Myra Pearson said, "The transition has been a work in progress but tribal leaders, employees and the community are determined to protect the children.

[18] It opened in 1973 and by 1989, the tribe had purchased the last remaining shares of the company owned by the Brunswick Corporation, thereby gaining full ownership.

[18] Currently, 75% of the workforce is Native American and their products are created for the United States Department of Defense out of their 250,000 square foot manufacturing facility.

The two-year college provides classes in subject areas needed by the reservation and to prepare students for other jobs, as well as strengthening their Dakota culture and language.

The present Spirit Lake Casino and Resort is owned and operated by the tribe and is located in St. Michael, North Dakota.

The casino has brought new sources of income and helped to stabilize the tribal economy employing over 300 people with 75% being Native American.

[19] After numerous renovations since its opening, it now has almost 150 hotel rooms, a 1,000-seat auditorium, a banquet hall, RV park, gift shop and a four-story aquatic center.