State recognized tribes are Native American Indian Tribes, Nations, and Heritage Groups that have been recognized by a process established under assorted state laws for varying purposes. With increasing activism by tribal nations since the mid-20th century to obtain federal recognition of their tribal sovereignty, many states have passed legislation to recognize some tribes and acknowledge the self-determination and continuity of historic ethnic groups. The majority of these groups are located in the Eastern US, as is the case with the three largest state-recognized tribes: viz. the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and the United Houma Nation of Louisiana.
In many cases, they have recognized tribes that were landless; that is, did not have an Indian reservation or communal land holdings. In addition, such states have often established commissions or other administrative bodies to deal with Native American affairs within the state. It has resulted from the process of increasing self-determination and preservation of cultural identity within some Native American communities, including descendants who remained in states east of the Mississippi River when many tribes were removed during the 19th century.
State recognition confers limited 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 not recognized by the federal government. For example, in Connecticut, state law recognizing certain tribes also protects reservations and limited self-government rights for state-recognized tribes.
Such state recognition has at times been opposed by federally recognized tribes. For instance, the Cherokee Nation opposes state-recognized tribes claiming Cherokee identity, as well as many non-recognized groups that also claim to be Cherokee.
Numerous other groups assert that they are Indian tribes. Many are listed in List of unrecognized tribes in the United States.
The United States Constitution, as interpreted by the Supreme Court, gives ultimate authority with regard to matters affecting the Indian tribes to the United States. Under federal law and regulations, an Indian tribe is a group of Native Americans with self-government authority. This defines those tribes recognized by the federal government.
By late 2007, about 16 states had recognized 62 tribes. Five other states—Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Oklahoma— had less developed processes of recognition. Typically, 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. Members of a state-recognized tribe are still subject to state law and government, and the tribe does not have sovereign control over its affairs. While some state-recognized tribes have petitioned unsuccessfully for federal recognition only the Virginian Palmunky tribe has been successful. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, only fourteen states recognize tribes at the state level.
Under the United States Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990, members of state-recognized tribes are authorized to exhibit as identified Native American artists, as are members of federally recognized tribes.
Koenig and Stein have recommended the processes of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, all established by laws passed by the state legislatures, as models worthy of other states to use as the basis for legislation related to recognition of Native American tribes. Statutes that clearly identify criteria for recognition or that explicitly recognize certain tribes remove ambiguity from their status.
By 2008 a total of 62 Native American tribes had been recognized by states; 566 had been recognized by the federal government, often as a result of the process of treaties setting up reservations in the 19th century.
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 identifies those state-recognized tribes that have petitioned for federal recognition and been denied. Many continue to work to gain such recognition.
By 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.
Cher-O-Creek Intra Tribal Indians
Cherokee Tribe of Northeast Alabama (formerly Cherokees of Jackson County, Alabama) Letter of Intent to Petition 09/23/1981; certified letter returned "not known" 11/19/1997.
Cherokees of Southeast Alabama Letter of Intent to Petition 05/27/1988; certified letter returned marked "deceased" 11/5/1997.
Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama
Ma-Chis Lower Creek Indian Tribe of Alabama Letter of Intent to Petition 06/27/1983. Declined to Acknowledge 08/18/1988 52 FR 34319, Denied federal recognition
MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians Letter of Intent to Petition 05/27/1983. Final Determination to Decline to Acknowledge published 12/24/1997 62FR247:67398-67400; petitioner requested reconsideration from BIA 3/23/1998, denied federal recognition; decision effective 11/26/1999.
Piqua Shawnee Tribe
Star Clan of Muscogee Creeks (formerly Lower Creek Muscogee Tribe East, Star Clan, Southeastern Mvskoke Nation, and Yufala Star Clan of Lower Muscogee Creeks)
United Cherokee Ani-Yun-Wiya Nation(formerly United Cherokee Intertribal). Letter of Intent to Petition 11/08/2001.
Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation of Connecticut. Recognized by the Secretary of the Interior in 2002; recognition revoked in 2005; Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation was made by merging of two nations:Eastern Pequot Indians of Connecticut. Letter of Intent to Petition 06/28/1978; Reconsidered final determination not to acknowledge became final and effective 10/14/2005 70 FR 60099.
Paucatuck Eastern Pequot Indians of Connecticut. Letter of Intent to Petition 06/20/1989. Reconsidered final determination not to acknowledge became final and effective 10/14/2005 70 FR 60099.
Golden Hill Paugussett. Final Determination Against Federal Acknowledgement of the Golden Hill Paugussett Tribe (2004)
Schaghticoke Tribal Nation. Letter of Intent to Petition 9/27/2001. Letter of Intent to Petition 12/14/1981; Declined to acknowledge in 2002; Reconsidered final determination not to acknowledge became final and effective 10/14/2005 70 FR 60101. Also known as Scaticook Tribe, Schaghticoke Indian Tribe.
Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware
Nanticoke Indian Association, Inc. Letter of Intent to Petition 08/08/1978; requested petition be placed on hold 3/25/1989, of limited applicability
In 2007, the state legislature formally recognized as American Indian tribes of Georgia the following:
Cherokee of Georgia Tribal Council
Georgia Tribe of Eastern Cherokees (I). Letter of Intent to Petition 01/09/1979; last submission February 2002; ready for Acknowledge review.
Unrecognized tribes with the same name as
Georgia Tribe of Eastern Cherokees, Inc. (II) and (III) exist.
Lower Muskogee Creek Tribe Letter of Intent to Petition 02/02/1972; Declined to Acknowledge 12/21/1981 (46 FR 51652). Denied federal recognition Also known as Lower Muskogee Creek Tribe East of the Mississippi, Inc.
Addai Caddo Tribe. Recognized by the State of Louisiana in 1993. Letter of Intent to Petition 09/13/1993. Also known as Adais Caddo Indians, Inc.
Biloxi-Chitimacha Confederation of Muskogee. Separated from United Houma Nation, Inc. Letter of Intent to Petition 10/24/1995. Recognized by the State of Louisiana in 2005.
Choctaw-Apache Tribe of Ebarb Recognized by the State of Louisiana in 1978. Letter of Intent to Petition 07/02/1978.
Clifton-Choctaw Recognized by the State of Louisiana in 1978. Letter of Intent to Petition 03/22/1978. Also known as Clifton Choctaw Reservation Inc.
Four Winds Tribe, Louisiana Cherokee Confederacy Recognized by the State of Louisiana in 1997.
Grand Caillou/Dulac Band
Isle de Jean Charles Band
Louisiana Choctaw Tribe.
Pointe-au-Chien Tribe. Separated from United Houma Nation, Inc.. Letter of Intent to Petition 7/22/1996. Recognized by the State of Louisiana in 2004.
United Houma Nation Recognized by the State of Louisiana in 1972. Letter of Intent to Petition 07/10/1979; Proposed Finding 12/22/1994, 59 FR 6618. Denied federal recognition
Maryland
On January 9, 2012, for the first time the state recognized two American Indian tribes under 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.
Piscataway Conoy Tribe It includes the following two sub-groups:
Piscataway Conoy Confederacy and Sub-Tribes
Cedarville Band of Piscataway Indians
Piscatway Indian Nation
The Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs was created by a legislative act of the General Court of Massachusetts in 1974, with the purpose of helping tribes recognized or that will be recognized receive access to and assistance with various local and state agencies. Two former state recognized tribes, the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, have federal recognition as of 1987 and 2007, respectively.
Massachusett
Praying Indians of Natick (receives services via Nipmuc Nation)
Massachusett-Ponkapoag Tribal Council
Nipmuc/Nipmuck
Nipmuc Nation (Hassanamisco Nipmuc and some Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuck) Letter of Intent to Petition 04/22/1980; Proposed finding in progress. Declined to acknowledge on 6/25/2004, 69 FR 35667; Reconsideration request before IBIA (not yet effective)
Webster/Dudley Band of the Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuck (Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuck)
Wampanoag (Wôpanaak)
Assonet Wampanoag Tribe
Chappaquiddick Wampanoag Tribe
Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe
Pocasset Tribe of the Pokanoket Nation
Seaconke Wampanoag Tribe
As of 2014, Michigan has four State Recognized Tribes.
Burt Lake Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians
Grand River Band of Ottawa Indians
Mackinac Bands of Chippewa & Ottawa Indians
Swan Creek Black River Confederated Ojibwa Tribes of Michigan
Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Letter of Intent to Petition 4/28/1978; Proposed Finding 7/21/2000.
Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation. Letter of Intent to Petition 01/03/1992. Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Indians.
Powhatan Renape Nation. Letter of Intent to Petition 04/12/1996.
Ramapough Lunaape Nation. Letter of Intent to Petition 08/14/1979. Decline to Acknowledge 2/6/1996 (61 FR 4476); request for reconsideration to IBIA; decision affirmed 7/18/1997; reconsidered Final Determination 1/7/1998 (63 FR 888); in litigation; 12/11/2001, U.S. Court of Appeals affirmed the District Court’s Memorandum Opinion & Order granting summary judgment to the Department; US Supreme Court denied cert. 2002; Decision effective 1/7/1998. Also known as 'Ramapough Lenape Indian Nation and Ramapo Mountain Indians.
Tonawanda Band of Seneca (Also federally recognized)
Tuscarora Nation (Also federally recognized)
Unkechague Poosepatuck Tribe (Unkechaug Nation)
State-recognized Tribes:
Coharie Intra-tribal Council, Inc. Letter of Intent to Petition 3/13/1981.
Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe Letter of Intent to Petition 1/27/1979. Notified of "obvious deficiencies" in federal recognition application
Lumbee Tribe (Lumbee Regional Development Association Inc., Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina). Letter of Intent to Petition 01/07/1980; determined ineligible to petition (SOL opinion of 10/23/1989). In 2009, Senate Indian Affairs Committee endorsed a bill that would grant federal recognition.
Meherrin Nation. State Recognized 1987.
Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation.> Letter of Intent to Petition 01/06/1995.
Sappony(formerly known as Indians of Person County, North Carolina).
Waccamaw-Siouan Tribe. Letter of Intent to Petition 06/27/1983; determined ineligible to petition (SOL opinion of 10/23/1989). Letter of Intent to Petition 10/16/1992; determined eligible to petition (SOL letter of 6/29/1995). Also known as Waccamaw Siouan Development Association.
State-recognized American Indian Organizations (not tribes):
Cumberland County Association for Indian People
Guilford Native American Association
Metrolina Native American Association
Triangle Native American Society
Munsee Delaware Indian Nation-USA
United Remnant Band of the Shawnee Nation
In 2003 the state legislature passed Section 1 31 40(A)(10), South Carolina Code of Laws (Annotated), which established criteria for state recognition of Native American tribes, further providing that “The South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs shall promulgate regulations as may be necessary regarding State Recognition of Native American Indian entities in the State of South Carolina.” These rules and regulations shall be applicable to all entities seeking Native American Indian State Recognition as a: A. Native American Indian Tribe; B. Native American Indian Group; C. Native American Special Interest Organization.
State-recognized Tribes:
Beaver Creek Indians. Letter of Intent to Petition 01/26/1998. State recognized tribe in 2006.
Edisto Natchez Kusso Tribe of South Carolina, state recognized tribe in 2010. Also known as Edisto Natchez-Kusso Indians (Four Holes Indian Organization)
Pee Dee Nation of Upper South Carolina. Letter of Intent to Petition 12/14/2005. State recognized tribe in 2005.
Pee Dee Indian Tribe of South Carolina, state recognized tribe in 2006.
Santee Indian Organization. Letter of Intent to Petition 06/04/1979. State recognized tribe in 2006. Formerly White Oak Indian Community.
Piedmont American Indian Association of South Carolina(or Piedmont American Indian Association-Lower Eastern Cherokee Nation of South Carolina)Letter of intent to Petition 8/20/1998 State recognized as a tribe July 13, 2015
The Sumter Tribe of the Cheraw, state recognized tribe in 2012.
Wassamasaw Tribe of Varnertown Indians,
The Waccamaw Indian People.
State-recognized Tribal Groups (not tribes):
Chaloklowa Chickasaw Indian People. Letter of Intent to Petition 08/14/2002. Receipt of Petition 08/14/2002. State recognized tribal group in 2005.
Eastern Cherokee, Southern Iroquois & United Tribes of South Carolina, Inc. (a.k.a. Cherokee Indian Tribe of South Carolina or ECSIUT), state recognized tribal group in 2005.
Natchez Indian Tribe, state recognized tribal group in 2007.
Pee Dee Indian Nation of Beaver Creek. Letter of Intent to Petition 6/16/1999. State recognized tribal group in 2007.
Piedmont American Indian Association of South Carolina (or Piedmont American Indian Association - Lower Eastern Cherokee Nation of South Carolina) Letter of Intent to Petition 8/20/1998. State recognized tribal group in 2006.
State-recognized tribal Special Interest Organizations (not tribes):
American Indian Chamber of Commerce of South Carolina, state-recognized tribal Special Interest Organization in 2006.
Little Horse Creek American Indian Cultural Center, state-recognized tribal Special Interest Organization in 2010.
Lipan Apache Tribe. On March 18, 2009, the State of Texas legislature passed resolutions HR 812 and SR 438 recognizing the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas. Also known as Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas.
Texas Band of Yaqui Indians State Recognized Tribe (see SR 989 from 2015)
As of May 3, 2006, Vermont law 1 V.S.A §§ 851–853 recognizes Abenakis as Native American Indians, not the tribes or bands. However, on April 22, 2011, Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin signed legislative bills officially recognizing two Abenaki Bands. The four Abenaki state-recognized tribes are also known as the "Abenaki Alliance."
Elnu Abenaki Tribe; recognition signed into statute April 22, 2011.
Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation; recognition signed into statute April 22, 2011.
On May 7, 2012 Governor Shumlim signed legislative bills officially recognizing two more Abenaki Bands:
Koasek Abenaki Tribe. Also known as Traditional Koasek Abenaki Nation of the Koas
Mississquoi Abenaki Tribe. Also known as Missisquoi St Francis Sokoki Abenaki Nations.
Cheroenhaka (Nottoway). Letter of Intent to Petition 12/30/2002. Receipt of Petition 12/30/2002. State recognized 2010; in Courtland, Southampton County.
Chickahominy Tribe. Letter of Intent to Petition 03/19/1996. State recognized 1983; in Charles City County. In 2009, Senate Indian Affairs Committee endorsed a bill that would grant federal recognition.
Eastern Chickahominy Tribe. Letter of Intent to Petition 9/6/2001. State recognized, 1983; in New Kent County. In 2009, Senate Indian Affairs Committee endorsed a bill that would grant federal recognition.
Mattaponi(a.k.a. Mattaponi Indian Reservation). Letter of Intent to Petition 04/04/1995. State recognized 1983; in Banks of the Mattaponi River, King William County. The Mattaponi and Pamunkey have reservations based in colonial-era treaties ratified by the Commonwealth in 1658. Pamunkey Tribe's attorney told Congress in 1991 that the tribes state reservation originated in a treaty with the crown in the 17th century and has been occupied by Pamunkey since that time under strict requirements and following the treaty obligation to provide to the Crown a deer every year, and they've done that (replacing Crown with Governor of Commonwealth since Virginia became a Commonwealth)
Monacan Indian Nation (formerly Monacan Indian Tribe of Virginia). Letter of Intent to Petition 07/11/1995. State recognized 1989; in Bear Mountain, Amherst County. In 2009, Senate Indian Affairs Committee endorsed a bill that would grant federal recognition.
Nansemond, Letter of Intent to Petition 9/20/2001. State recognized 1985; in Cities of Suffolk and Chesapeake. In 2009, Senate Indian Affairs Committee endorsed a bill that would grant federal recognition. Also known as Nansemond Indian Tribal Association.
Nottoway of Virginia(Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia), recognized 2010; in Capron, Southampton County.
Patawomeck recognized 2010; in Stafford County.
Pamunkey Indian Tribe (also federally recognized)
Rappahannock). Letter of Intent to Petition 11/16/1979. State recognized 1983; in Indian Neck, King & Queen County. In 2009, Senate Indian Affairs Committee endorsed a bill that would grant federal recognition. Formerly known as United Rappahannock Tribe.
Shares a name with an unrecognized tribe
Rappahannock Indian Tribe (II).
Upper Mattaponi Indian Tribe. Letter of Intent to Petition 11/26/1979. State recognized 1983; in King William County. In 2009, Senate Indian Affairs Committee endorsed a bill that would grant federal recognition. Formerly known as Upper Mattaponi Indian Tribal Association.
Chinook Indian Tribe. Letter of Intent to Petition 07/23/1979; Declined to acknowledge 07/12/2003 (67 FR 46204). Also known as Chinook Indian Tribe of Oregon & Washington, Inc. and Chinook Nation.
