40-603: The Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama is a state-recognized tribe in Alabama and Cherokee heritage group . It is based in northern Alabama and gained state-recognition under the Davis-Strong Act in 1984. Recognition by an American state government is not the same as recognition on the federal level or recognition by continually existing Indian tribes. Both the federally recognized Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians oppose federal recognition of
80-462: A Native American tribe by a state; however, "Resolutions are statements of opinions and, unlike bills, do not have the force of law." The following is a list of tribes recognized by various states but not by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs . Tribes originally recognized by states that have since gained federal recognition have been deleted from the list below. The list includes state-recognized tribes that have petitioned for federal recognition. By
120-638: A State legislature or by a State commission or similar organization legislatively vested with State tribal recognition authority" can exhibition as a "Native American" or "American Indian" artist. The Administration for Native Americans , a program office within the Department of Health and Human Services, may confer benefits to state-recognized tribes under the Native American Programs Act (NAPA). The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) does not require
160-751: A liaison, the Georgia Council on American Indian Concerns, in 2001, under the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, State Parks and Historic Sites Division. In 2007, the state legislature formally recognized the following as American Indian tribes of Georgia: Hawaii has no state-recognized tribes. Idaho has no state-recognized tribes. Illinois has no office to manage Indian affairs and no state-recognized tribes. Indiana has no office to manage Indian affairs and no state-recognized tribes. Iowa has no state-recognized tribes. Kansas has an office to manage Indian affairs:
200-861: A process developed by the General Assembly; these were both Piscataway groups, historically part of the large Algonquian languages family along the Atlantic Coast. The Governor announced it to the Assembly by executive order. The Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs was created by a legislative act of the General Court of Massachusetts in 1974, to advise the Commonwealth on how best to establish positive relationships with its Indigenous Tribes. In 1976, Governor Michael Dukakis issued Executive Order 126, which clarified
240-472: A state-recognized tribe are still subject to state law and government, and the tribe does not have sovereign control over its affairs. State recognition confers few benefits under federal law. It is not the same as federal recognition , which is the federal government's acknowledgment of a tribe as a dependent sovereign nation. Some states have provided laws related to state recognition that provide some protection of autonomy for tribes that are not recognized by
280-581: A tan and by speaking English rather than Cherokee. In 1980 a group of people ineligible to enroll in any federally recognized Native American tribe set up a nonprofit heritage club known as "The Echota Cherokee." In 1984, when the Alabama Indian Affairs Commission was established to represent Native American interests in the state, the group attained state recognition. The group is headquartered in Falkville, Alabama . In 1997
320-479: Is a group of Native Americans with self-government authority. This defines those tribes recognized by the federal government. By 2021, 574 tribes had been recognized by the federal government, often as a result of the process of treaties setting up reservations in the 19th century. Four federal agencies have the authority to confer benefits to state-recognized tribes: the Department of Health and Human Services ,
360-855: Is beyond the scope of the duties of the commission outlined in Executive Order 126 and in the administration of the Massachusetts government. The Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs announced in August 2023 that it would be establishing a process for state recognition to ensure protections for Native artisans under the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 . Michigan has no state-recognized tribes. Minnesota has no state-recognized tribes. The state of Mississippi has offered congratulatory resolutions to unrecognized organizations identifying as Native American descendants, such as
400-562: The Department of Labor , the Department of Education , and the Department of Housing and Urban Development . Under the United States Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 (IACA), members of state-recognized tribes may exhibit as identified "Native American" or "American Indian" artists. In addition to citizens of federally recognized tribes and tribally designated artisans, IACA says that members of "any Indian group that has been formally recognized as an Indian tribe by
440-737: The Eastern United States , including the three of largest state-recognized tribes in the US, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina , Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama , and the United Houma Nation of Louisiana , each of which has more than ten thousand members. In late 2007 about 16 states had recognized 62 tribes. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures , only 14 states recognize tribes at
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#1732791011064480-783: The Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe alongside the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head, and the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Tribe. The order also recognized Tribal Council of the Herring Pond as its governing body, all in accordance with Dukakis' Executive Order No. 126, for all relevant purposes. The Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs lacks the authority to recognize any group, as recognition
520-716: The U.S. Congress the right to interact with tribes. More specifically, the Supreme Court of the United States in United States v. Sandoval 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
560-771: 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 . 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
600-637: The contiguous United States . There are also federally recognized Alaska Native tribes . As of January 8, 2024 , 574 Indian tribes were legally recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) of the United States. Of these, 228 are located in Alaska and 109 are located in California. 346 of the 574 federally recognized tribes are located in the contiguous United States. Federally recognized tribes are those Native American tribes recognized by
640-452: The 1950s, the BIA in 1978 published final rules with procedures that groups had to meet to secure federal tribal acknowledgment. There are seven criteria. Four have proven troublesome for most groups to prove: long-standing historical community, outside identification as Indians, political authority, and descent from a historical tribe. Tribes seeking recognition must submit detailed petitions to
680-457: The 574th tribe to gain federal recognition on December 20, 2019. The website USA.gov , the federal government's official web portal, also maintains an updated list of tribal governments . Ancillary information present in former versions of this list but no longer contained in the current listing has been included here in italic print. The Federal Register
720-494: The Alabama Indian Affairs Commission and the Inter-Tribal Council of Alabama's WIA Program, to assist workforce improvement. The Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama is not federally recognized as a Native American tribe , nor are they recognized by any of the federally recognized Cherokee communities. The Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama sent a letter of intent to petition for federal recognition in 2009; however,
760-561: The BIA's Office of Federal Acknowledgment. To be formally recognized as an Indian tribe, the US Congress can legislate recognition or a tribe can meet the seven criteria outlined by the Office of Federal Acknowledgment. These seven criteria are summarized as: The federal acknowledgment process can take years, even decades; delays of 12 to 14 years have occurred. The Shinnecock Indian Nation formally petitioned for recognition in 1978 and
800-705: The Court stated: 'The treaties and laws of the United States contemplate ... that all intercourse with [Indians] shall be carried on exclusively by the government of the union.' Real tribes are governments similar to States and Nations. After the passage of the Indian Removal Act in the 1830, the majority of the Cherokee people were forcibly removed from the Southeastern United States. The approximately 1,000 Cherokee people who remained in
840-859: The Davis-Strong Act of 1984, the state established the Alabama Indian Affairs Commission to acknowledge and represent Native American citizens in the state. At that time, it recognized seven tribes that did not have federal recognition. The commission members, representatives of the tribes, have created rules for tribal recognition, which were last updated in 2003, under which three more tribes have been recognized. Alaska has no state-recognized tribes. Arkansas has no office to manage Indian affairs and no state-recognized tribes. Arizona has no state-recognized tribes. California has no state-recognized tribes. Colorado has no state-recognized tribes. Florida has an office to manage Indian affairs: Florida Governor's Council on Indian Affairs, Inc. Florida has no state-recognized tribes. Georgia established
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#1732791011064880-533: The Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama, listing them among "fraudulent groups." The Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama has a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Falkville, Alabama , and founded in 1995. Its missions is the "Education of general public with regard to Cherokee nation history, culture and background." Numerous organizations in the United States identify as having Cherokee heritage but lack documented ancestry or connection to
920-536: The Echota Cherokee organization reported that they had 22,000 members. Only 21 members participated in the cited survey. They do not state what criteria they use for membership. Their stated accomplishments and goals at this time were that they had elected a council, and hoped to offer "instruction in the Cherokee language through the Alabama public school system." The Echota Cherokee have a representative on
960-564: The Joint Committee on State-Tribal Relations. Kansas has no state-recognized tribes. Kentucky has no state-recognized tribes. The Louisiana Office of Indian Affairs oversees state–tribal relations. They maintain a list of federally and state-recognized tribes headquartered in Louisiana. Maine has no state-recognized tribes. On January 9, 2012, for the first time the state-recognized two American Indian tribes under
1000-520: The MS HR50 in which the legislators "commend and congratulate" Vancleave Live Oak Choctaw Tribe for recognition; however, no laws outline formal state-recognition for this or any other group by the State of Mississippi. Mississippi has no office to manage Indian affairs and no state-recognized tribes. Missouri has no office to manage Indian affairs and no state-recognized tribes. Montana has
1040-567: The Montana Office of Indian Affairs but has no state-recognized tribes. Nebraska has no state-recognized tribes. Nevada has no state-recognized tribes. New Hampshire has the New Hampshire State Commission on Native American Affairs but no state-recognized tribes. New Mexico has no state-recognized tribes. Federal recognition This is a list of federally recognized tribes in
1080-685: The Southeast formed the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and their tribe continues to live in the community known as the Qualla Boundary . The Echota Cherokee claim that their ancestors were Cherokee people who fled or "simply walked away" from the Trail of Tears . They have also claimed that their ancestors were so white-passing and assimilated that they could escape detection simply by wearing hats and long-sleeved shirts to avoid getting
1120-411: The U.S. Federal Government or as Nations that are no longer in existence and/or no longer meet the criteria as a Nation to have sovereignty status." Such state recognition has at times been opposed by federally recognized tribes. Journalists Adam Elmahrek and Paul Pringle wrote, "Many Native Americans have long opposed allowing states to recognize tribes, arguing that the federal government should make
1160-710: The addition of six tribes in Virginia under the Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2017, signed in January 2018 after the annual list had been published. In July 2018 the United States' Federal Register issued an official list of 573 tribes that are Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible To Receive Services From the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs . The Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana became
1200-511: The decision because states often fail to properly screen groups." The Cherokee Nation opposes state-recognized tribes, as well as Cherokee heritage groups and others with no documented descent who claim Cherokee identity. Other groups that identify as being Native American tribes but lack federal or state recognition are listed in the List of organizations that self-identify as Native American tribes . Most state-recognized tribes are located in
1240-507: The federal government or museums to consult with state-recognized tribes. State-recognized tribes may request the repatriation of cultural items or human remains only in cooperation with federally recognized tribes. Other federal Indian legislation does not apply to state-recognized tribes. For example, Indian Preference in hiring and the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 do not apply to these organizations. Typically,
Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama - Misplaced Pages Continue
1280-618: The federal government. For example, in Connecticut, state law recognizing certain tribes also protects reservations and limited self-government rights for state-recognized tribes. Non-recognized tribes is a term for "groups that have no federal designation and are not accepted as sovereign entities under U.S. law," which includes state-recognized tribes. "An additional sub-designation under this classification are 'Federally Non-Recognized' tribes, which includes groups that have previously held federal recognition, either under governments prior to
1320-487: The federally recognized Cherokee Nation , Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians , or United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma . Some of these groups have applied for federal recognition but been denied. The Supreme Court made plain the exclusion of states from tribal matters in the earliest and most important cases that make up the foundation of Indian Law. In Worcester v. Georgia , 31 U.S. (6 Pet.) 515 (1832)
1360-728: The organization did not follow through with submitting a completed petition for federal recognition. State recognized tribes State-recognized tribes in the United States are organizations that identify as Native American tribes or heritage groups that do not meet the criteria for federally recognized Indian tribes but have been recognized by a process established under assorted state government laws for varying purposes or by governor's executive orders. State recognition does not dictate whether or not they are recognized as Native American tribes by continually existing tribal nations. Individual states confer state-recognition "for their various internal state government purposes." Members of
1400-813: The responsibilities of the Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs and identified three historic and continuous tribes in the Commonwealth: the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head , the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Hassanamisco Nipmuc . The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe have federal recognition as of 1987 and 2007, respectively. On November 19, 2024, Governor Maura Healey issued Executive Order No. 637, which recognized
1440-458: The right to certain benefits, and is largely administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). While trying to determine which groups were eligible for federal recognition in the 1970s, government officials became aware of the need for consistent procedures. To illustrate, several federally unrecognized tribes encountered obstacles in bringing land claims ; United States v. Washington (1974)
1480-469: The state legislature or state agencies involved in cultural or Native American affairs make the formal recognition by criteria they establish, often with Native American representatives, and sometimes based on federal criteria. Statutes that clearly identify criteria for recognition or that explicitly recognize certain tribes remove ambiguity from their status. Many organizations try to assert that various congratulatory resolutions constitute recognition as
1520-591: The state level by 2017. The Native Nations Institute of the University of Arizona lists 15 states as having state-recognized tribes in 2024. The United States Constitution, as interpreted by the Supreme Court, gives ultimate authority with regard to matters affecting the American Indian tribes to the United States federal government. Under US federal law and regulations, an American Indian tribe
1560-585: Was a court case that affirmed the fishing treaty rights of Washington tribes; and other tribes demanded that the U.S. government recognize aboriginal titles . All the above culminated in the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 , which legitimized tribal entities by partially restoring Native American self-determination . Following the decisions made by the Indian Claims Commission in
1600-673: Was recognized 32 years later in 2010. At a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing, witnesses testified that the process was "broken, long, expensive, burdensome, intrusive, unfair, arbitrary and capricious, less than transparent, unpredictable, and subject to undue political influence and manipulation." The number of tribes increased to 567 in May 2016 with the inclusion of the Pamunkey tribe in Virginia who received their federal recognition in July 2015. The number of tribes increased to 573 with
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