Tribal Council

Associations of tribes

In Canada, the Indian band, usually consisting of one main community, is the fundamental unit of government. Bands may unite to form a tribal council, but they need not do so. Bands that do not belong to a tribal council are said to be independent. Bands may and do withdraw from tribal councils. Furthermore, the authority that bands delegate to their tribal council varies, with some tribal councils serving as a strong, central organization while others are granted limited power by their members.

In the United States, several sovereign American Indian Nations are organized as Tribal Councils. The Navajo Nation, or Dineh, were formally governed by the Navajo Tribal Council, known today as the Navajo Nation Council. The Crow Nation in Montana was once organized as the Crow Tribal Council. Since the late 20th century, the Crow Nation changed their constitution (which some people have opposed as an illegal action) and organized as a three-branch government with a ceremonial Crow Tribal General Council.

Governing bodies

Tribal councils in Canada and the United States have a somewhat different status. In the United States, the term usually describes the governing body of a tribe that is typically distinct from other tribes as a matter of geography, native language, religion and culture. The tribe, usually comprising a single Reservation (although some tribes have more than one, and many have none) is the basic unit of government. Federally recognized tribes in the United States are considered "domestic dependent nations", and they have sovereign status somewhat comparable to the individual American States. Different tribes may choose governance structures for themselves, but most tribes have adopted democratic governments in which a Tribal Council or the equivalent functions as a legislative body and an elected or appointed Chairman has an executive role comparable to a President or Prime Minister. On a few American Indian reservations such as the Hopi Reservation, an elected tribal democratic government operates in parallel with the tribe's traditional religious and secular government.

Alberta

Athabasca Tribal Council

Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations

Four Nations Administration

Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council

Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council

North Peace Tribal Council

Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta

Treaty 7 Management Corporation

Western Cree Tribal Council

Yellowhead Tribal Council

British Columbia

Northern Shuswap Tribal Council aka Cariboo Tribal Council

Carrier Chilcotin Tribal Council

Carrier Sekani Tribal Council

Fraser Canyon Indian Administration (Nlaka'pamux) (defunct)

In-SHUCK-ch (also Lower Stl'atl'imx Tribal Council, which includes N'quat'qua First Nation as well as In-SHUCK-ch)

Kaska Tribal Council

Kwakiutl District Council

Lillooet Tribal Council (aka St'at'imc Nation, but does not include all St'at'imc)

Musgamagw Tsawataineuk Tribal Council

Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council

Nicola Tribal Association (Nlaka'pamux and Okanagan)

Nisga'a Tribal Council

Nlaka'pamux Nation Tribal Council (does not include all Nlaka'pamux)

Northern Shuswap Tribal Council

Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council

Office of the Wet'suwet'en

Okanagan Nation Alliance (includes Colville Reservation in US)

Shuswap Nation Tribal Council

Sto:lo Nation

Stó:lō Tribal Council

Tsilhqot'in National Government

Tsimshian Tribal Council (defunct)

Treaty 8 Tribal Association (northeastern BC)

Manitoba

Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council

Interlake Reserves Tribal Council

Island Lake Tribal Council

Keewatin Tribal Council

Manitoba Keewatinook Ininew Okimowin

Swampy Cree Tribal Council

Western Region Tribal Council

West Region Tribal Council

New Brunswick

Mawiw Tribal Council

Saint John River Valley Tribal Council

Northwest Territories

Mackenzie Delta Tribal Council

Nova Scotia

The Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq

Union of Nova Scotia Indians

Ontario

Bimose Tribal Council

Independent First Nations Alliance

Keewaytinook Okimakanak Council

Matawa First Nations

Mushkegowuk Council

North Shore Tribal Council

Pwi-Di-Goo-Zing Ne-Yaa-Zhing Advisory Services

Shibogama First Nations Council

Southern First Nation Secretariat

United Chiefs & Councils of Manitoulin Island

Wabun Tribal Council

Waabnoong Bemjiwang Association of First Nations

Windigo First Nations Council

Prince Edward Island

Mi'kmaq Confederacy of Prince Edward Island

Quebec

Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council

Algonquin Nation Tribal Council

Mamuitun Tribal Council

The Grand Council of the Crees is not a tribal council in the same sense of the above, but serves a similar purpose. its powers are not delegated from member communities but are derived from the 1975 James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement and subsequent agreements with Canada and Quebec.

Saskatchewan

Agency Chiefs Tribal Council

Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations

Battlefords Tribal Council

File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council

Fort Carlton Agency Council

Meadow Lake Tribal Council

Prince Albert Grand Council

Saskatoon Tribal Council

Southeast Tribal Council

Southeast Treaty#4 Tribal Council

Touchwood Agency Chiefs

Yorkton Tribal Council

Barking Spider Swift Current Chiefs Council

Yukon

Gwich'in Tribal Council

Tanana Chiefs Council

Tribal Councils in the United States

Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council

Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc.

Inter-tribal Council of Michigan

Minnesota Indian Affairs Council

Navajo Nation Council

Siletz Tribal Council

Williamsburg Tribal Council