President Obama has signed the Tribal Law and Order Act.

Local tribal members say it was a historical event. The law is designed to reduce high rates of violent crimes within indian reservations.

President Obama's signing of the Act is giving the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians a sense of hope.

"At first, the development of this Act comes on hardships and comes on personal and emotional experiences that are suffered by many. But this act will help us go forward now," said Tribal Chairman Derek Bailey.

The President signed the bill Thursday and says Native Americans have the right to enjoy the fullest protection of our laws.

"Americans have the right to feel safe in their own communities," said President Obama.

The new law demands stricter punishments for violent crimes like rape, murder and sexual assault. Before this bill, the maximum punishment for these crimes committed on tribal land was one year.

"With this new tribal law and order act it would enable offenders in tribal court to be sentenced up to three years, so essentially it gives back power to the tribe to essentially rule its own people," Tribal Prosecutor

The department of justice says Native American women suffer from violent crimes at a rate of 3.5 times greater than the national average.

It also says one in three Native American women will be raped in their lifetime. Why are these statistics so high? Bailey says it could be the need for more Law Enforcement.

"What you're doing is you're strengthening different components to handling the cases from increasing personnel, training, education and from data sharing," said Bailey.

Bailey says Tribal Governments and Federal Governments working together is the biggest reason he believes this act will be successful.

This act is aimed at lowering the average of violent acts, but also allowing the prosecution of perpetrators, and the healing for their victims to be immediate and effective.

Since the law is brand new, Feil says the entire tribal law code could be reevaluated now.