Federal and State Tribal Recognition

What are federally recognized tribes?

There are currently 574 federally recognized Native American and Alaskan villages and tribes in the United States. Federally recognized tribes are defined by the Department of the Interior, Indian Affairs as

“ …an American Indian or Alaska Native tribal entity that is recognized as having a government-to-government relationship with the United States, with the responsibilities, powers, limitations, and obligations attached to that designation, and is eligible for funding and services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Furthermore, federally recognized tribes are recognized as possessing certain inherent rights of self-government (i.e., tribal sovereignty) and are entitled to receive certain federal benefits, services, and protections because of their special relationship with the United States.”¹

How do Indigenous Nations achieve federal recognition?

Federal recognition is a complicated and drawn out process that can take three decades or more to secure. To receive recognition Indigenous Nations must meet seven criteria according to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA):

1. Indian entity confirmation,
2. Community,
3. Political influence or authority,
4. Governing document,
5. Descent,
6. Unique membership,
7. Congressional termination.

View more information on these criteria

What are state recognized tribes?

Currently there are 11 states that have recognized 63 tribes. These 63 tribes are located in states that have a formal recognition process. Tribes that are recognized by the state have an acknowledgement of their historical and cultural contributions. There are some states that do not have a formal recognition process but do acknowledge the contributions of tribal communities. Currently, there is not a list of the informally recognized tribes. Some states that formally recognize tribal communities create a statewide commission that is often made up of Native American and state representatives to address the needs and issues impacting tribal people in the state. State recognized tribes are not eligible to receive benefits from the federal government. Some tribes will use state recognition to strengthen their application for federal recognition.