Federally recognized tribes are those Native American tribes recognized by the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs as holding a government-to-government relationship with the US federal government. For Alaska Native tribes, see list of Alaska Native tribal entities. As of January 8, 2024, 574 Indian tribes were legally recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) of the United States. Of these, 227 are located in Alaska and 109 are located in California.

Description

In the United States, the Native American tribe is a fundamental unit of sovereign tribal government. As the Department of the Interior explains, "federally recognized tribes are recognized as possessing certain inherent rights of self-government (i.e., tribal sovereignty)...." The constitution grants to the U.S. Congress the right to interact with tribes. More specifically, the Supreme Court of the United States in United States v. Sandoval (231 US. 28 [1913]) warned, "it is not ... that Congress may bring a community or body of people within range of this power by arbitrarily calling them an Indian tribe, but only that in respect of distinctly Indian communities the questions whether, to what extent, and for what time they shall be recognized and dealt with as dependent tribes" (at 46). Federal tribal recognition grants to tribes the right to self-government, as well as certain benefits. The recognition process is largely controlled by the United States federal agency the Bureau of Indian Affairs, in consultation with federally recognized tribes.

In January 2015, the United States' Federal Register issued an official list of 566 tribes that are Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible To Receive Services From the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs. The number of tribes increased to 567 in July 2015 with the federal recognition of the Pamunkey tribe in Virginia. USA.gov, the federal government's official web portal, maintains a list of tribal governments which is constantly updated. Ancillary information present in former versions of this list but no longer contained in the current listing have been included here in italics print.

In 2018, six more Virginia-based tribes were added to the list, then in 2020 the Little Shell Chippewa were recognized bringing the total to 574. Of these, 231 are located in Alaska.

Except for Hawaii, states that have no federally recognized tribes today forcibly removed tribes from their region in the 19th century, mainly to the west and especially to Indian Territory, now Oklahoma.

Alabama

• Poarch Band of Creek Indians
  (previously listed as Poarch Band of Creeks, Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama, Creek Nation East of the Mississippi)

Alaska

Arizona

Multiple states:

• Colorado River Indian Tribes of the Colorado River Indian Reservation, Arizona and California
• Fort Mojave Indian Tribe of Arizona, California & Nevada
• Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah
• Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation, California & Arizona
• Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico

Arkansas

No federally recognized tribes

California

Multiple states:

• Colorado River Indian Tribes of the Colorado River Indian Reservation, Arizona and California
• Fort Mojave Indian Tribe of Arizona, California & Nevada
• Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation, California & Arizona
• Washoe Tribe of Nevada & California
  • Carson Colony
  • Dresslerville Colony
  • Woodfords Community
  • Stewart Community
  • Washoe Ranches

Colorado

• Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute Reservation, Colorado

Multiple states:

• Ute Mountain Tribe of the Ute Mountain Reservation, Colorado, New Mexico & Utah

Connecticut

• Mashantucket Pequot Tribe of Connecticut
• Mohegan Indian Tribe of Connecticut

Delaware

No federally recognized tribes

Florida

• Miccosukee Tribe of Indians
  (previously listed as Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida)
• Seminole Tribe of Florida
  • Big Cypress Reservation
  • Brighton Reservation
  • Hollywood Reservation
  • Tampa Reservation

Georgia

No federally recognized tribes

Hawaii

No federally recognized tribes

Idaho

• Coeur D'Alene Tribe, previously listed as Coeur D'Alene Tribe of the Coeur D'Alene Reservation, Idaho
• Kootenai Tribe of Idaho
• Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho
• Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservation
  (previously listed as Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservation of Idaho)

Multiple states:

• Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation, Idaho and Nevada

Illinois

Prairie Band of Potawatomi Nation

Indiana

Multiple states:

• Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana

Iowa

• Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa

Kansas

• Kickapoo Tribe of Indians of the Kickapoo Reservation in Kansas
• Prairie Band of Potawatomi Nation, Kansas
  (previously listed as Prairie Band of Potawatomi Indians)

Multiple states:

• Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska
• Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska

Kentucky

No federally recognized tribes

Louisiana

• Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana
• Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana
• Jena Band of Choctaw Indians
• Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe of Louisiana

Maine

• Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians
  (previously listed asHoulton Band of Maliseet Indians of Maine)
• Mi'kmaq Nation
  (previously listed as Aroostook Band of Micmacs; Aroostook Band of Micmac Indians)
• Passamaquoddy Tribe
  (previously listed as Passamaquoddy Tribe of Maine)
• Penobscot Nation
  (previously listed as Penobscot Tribe of Maine)

Maryland

No federally recognized tribes

Massachusetts

• Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, Massachusetts
• Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) of Massachusetts
  (previously listed as Wampanoag Tribal Council of Gay Head, Inc.)

Michigan

Multiple states:

• Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana

Minnesota

• Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of Minnesota
• Prairie Island Indian Community in the State of Minnesota
• Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, Minnesota
• Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community of Minnesota
• Upper Sioux Community, Minnesota

Multiple states:

• Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin (also in Minnesota)
  (previously listed as Wisconsin Winnebago Tribe)
• Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota
  Six component reservations:
  • Bois Forte Band (Nett Lake)
  • Fond du Lac Band (also in Wisconsin)
  • Grand Portage Band
  • Leech Lake Band
  • Mille Lacs Band
  • White Earth Band

Mississippi

Multiple states:

• Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians

Missouri

No federally recognized tribes

Montana

Multiple states:

• Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota (also in Montana and South Dakota)

Nebraska

• Omaha Tribe of Nebraska
• Ponca Tribe of Nebraska
• Santee Sioux Nation, Nebraska
  (previously listed as Santee Sioux Tribe of the Santee Reservation of Nebraska)
• Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

Multiple states:

• Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska
• Sac & Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska

Nevada

Multiple states:

• Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, Nevada and Utah
• Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribes of the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation, Nevada and Oregon
• Fort Mojave Indian Tribe of Arizona, California & Nevada
• Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation, Idaho and Nevada
• Washoe Tribe of Nevada & California
  • Carson Colony
  • Dresslerville Colony
  • Woodfords Community
  • Stewart Community
  • Washoe Ranches

New Hampshire

No federally recognized tribes

New Jersey

No federally recognized tribes

New Mexico

Multiple states:

• Fort Sill Apache Tribe (also Oklahoma)
• Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah
• Ute Mountain Tribe of the Ute Mountain Reservation, Colorado, New Mexico & Utah
• Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico (also Arizona)

New York

North Carolina

• Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
  (previously listed as Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina)

North Dakota

• Spirit Lake Tribe, North Dakota
• Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota

Multiple states:

• Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of North & South Dakota
• Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota (also in Montana and South Dakota)

Ohio

No federally recognized tribes

Oklahoma

Oregon

Multiple states:

• Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe

Pennsylvania

No federally recognized tribes

Rhode Island

• Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode Island

South Carolina

• Catawba Indian Nation
  (previously listed as Catawba Tribe of South Carolina)

South Dakota

Multiple states:

• Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of North & South Dakota
• Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota (also in Montana and South Dakota)

Tennessee

Multiple states:

• Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians

Texas

• Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas
• Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas
  (previously listed as Texas Band of Traditional Kickapoo)
• Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas

Utah

• Northwestern Band of Shoshoni Nation of Utah (Washakie)
• Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah
  • Cedar City Band of Paiutes
  • Kanosh Band of Paiutes
  • Koosharem Band of Paiutes
  • Indian Peaks Band of Paiutes
  • Shivwits Band of Paiutes
• Skull Valley Band of Goshute Indians of Utah
• Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah & Ouray Reservation, Utah

Multiple states:

• Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, Nevada and Utah
• Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah
• Ute Mountain Tribe of the Ute Mountain Reservation, Colorado, New Mexico & Utah

Vermont

No federally recognized tribes

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

No federally recognized tribes

Wisconsin

Multiple states:

• Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin (also in Minnesota)
  (previously listed as Wisconsin Winnebago Tribe)
• Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota
  • Fond du Lac Band (also in Wisconsin)

Wyoming

• Arapahoe Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, Wyoming
• Shoshone Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, Wyoming

See also

• Classification of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas

Native Americans in the United States

• Federally recognized tribes, continental United States
• List of Alaska Native tribal entities
• List of Indian reservations in the United States
  • List of historical Indian reservations in the United States
• State recognized tribes in the United States
• Organizations that self-identify as Native American tribes

Indigenous peoples in Canada

• List of Indian reserves in Canada
• List of First Nations governments
• List of First Nations peoples
• Inuit
• Métis

References

Articles connexes

1. State-recognized tribes in the United States
2. List of federally recognized tribes in the contiguous United States
3. List of Indian reservations in the United States
4. List of Native American tribes in Oklahoma
5. Tribe (Native American)
6. List of Alaska Native tribal entities
7. List of organizations that self-identify as Native American tribes
8. Native American tribes in Virginia
9. Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
10. Native American tribes in Massachusetts
11. Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama
12. Native American tribes in Nebraska
13. Native American tribes in Iowa
14. Five Civilized Tribes
15. Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas
16. Eagle feather law
17. Indigenous peoples of Arizona
18. Native American cultures in the United States
19. Klamath Tribes
20. Seminole Tribe of Florida