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List of federally recognized tribes by state facts for kids

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Federally recognized tribes by state
Map of states with US federally recognized tribes marked in yellow. States with no federally recognized tribes are marked in gray.

Federally recognized tribes are Native American tribes that the United States government officially recognizes. This recognition means they have a special government-to-government relationship with the U.S. federal government, managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. For tribes in Alaska, you can find a separate list at list of Alaska Native tribal entities. As of 2024, there are 574 federally recognized Indian tribes in the United States. About 227 of these are in Alaska, and 109 are in California.

Understanding Federally Recognized Tribes

In the United States, Native American tribes are seen as independent governments. The Department of the Interior explains that these tribes have "inherent rights of self-government." This means they have the power to govern themselves, which is also called tribal sovereignty.

The U.S. Congress has the right to work with these tribes. The Supreme Court of the United States has said that Congress can only recognize communities that are truly "distinctly Indian." This ensures that recognition is based on real tribal identity.

When a tribe is federally recognized, it gains the right to self-government. It also gets certain benefits and services from the U.S. government. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is the main federal agency that handles this recognition process. They often work with already recognized tribes when making decisions.

In January 2015, the U.S. government officially listed 566 tribes that could receive services from the BIA. This number grew to 567 in July 2015 when the Pamunkey tribe in Virginia was recognized. The official government website, USA.gov, keeps an updated list of these tribal governments.

By 2018, six more tribes from Virginia were added to the list. In 2020, the Little Shell Chippewa tribe was recognized. This brought the total number of federally recognized tribes to 574. Out of these, 231 are in Alaska.

Most states that do not have federally recognized tribes today had their Native American populations forcibly moved in the 1800s. Many tribes were moved to areas like Indian Territory, which is now Oklahoma. Hawaii is an exception, as it did not have forced removals in the same way.

Federally Recognized Tribes by State

This section lists federally recognized tribes, organized by the state where they are mainly located. Some tribes live across multiple states.

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Tribes Across Multiple States (Arizona)

Arkansas

No federally recognized tribes

California

Tribes Across Multiple States (California)

Colorado

Tribes Across Multiple States (Colorado)

Connecticut

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

Delaware

No federally recognized tribes

Florida

Georgia

No federally recognized tribes

Hawaii

No federally recognized tribes

Idaho

Tribes Across Multiple States (Idaho)

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

Illinois

No federally recognized tribes

Indiana

Tribes Across Multiple States (Indiana)

Iowa

Kansas

Tribes Across Multiple States (Kansas)

Kentucky

No federally recognized tribes

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

Michigan

Tribes Across Multiple States (Michigan)

Minnesota

Tribes Across Multiple States (Minnesota)

Mississippi

Tribes Across Multiple States (Mississippi)

Missouri

No federally recognized tribes

Montana

Tribes Across Multiple States (Montana)

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

Nebraska

Tribes Across Multiple States (Nebraska)

Nevada

Tribes Across Multiple States (Nevada)

New Hampshire

No federally recognized tribes

New Jersey

No federally recognized tribes

New Mexico

Tribes Across Multiple States (New Mexico)

New York

  • Cayuga Nation (previously listed as Cayuga Nation of New York)
  • Oneida Indian Nation (previously listed as Oneida Nation of New York)
  • Onondaga Nation of New York
  • Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (previously listed as St. Regis Band of Mohawk Indians of New York)
  • Seneca Nation of New York
  • Shinnecock Nation
  • Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of New York
  • Tuscarora Nation of New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Tribes Across Multiple States (North Dakota)

Ohio

No federally recognized tribes

Oklahoma

Oregon

Tribes Across Multiple States (Oregon)

Pennsylvania

No federally recognized tribes

Rhode Island

  • Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tribes Across Multiple States (South Dakota)

Tennessee

Tribes Across Multiple States (Tennessee)

Texas

Further information: Native American tribes in Texas

Utah

Tribes Across Multiple States (Utah)

Vermont

No federally recognized tribes

Virginia

  • Chickahominy Indian Tribe
  • Chickahominy Indian Tribe–Eastern Division
  • Monacan Indian Nation
  • Nansemond Indian Nation
  • Pamunkey Indian Tribe
  • Rappahannock Tribe, Inc.
  • Upper Mattaponi Tribe

Washington

West Virginia

No federally recognized tribes

Wisconsin

Wisconsin tribal flags at state capitol
Flags of Wisconsin tribes in the state capitol
  • Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians of the Bad River Reservation, Wisconsin
  • Forest County Potawatomi Community, Wisconsin
  • Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin
  • Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of the Lac du Flambeau Reservation of Wisconsin
  • Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin
  • Oneida Nation (previously listed as Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin)
  • Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin
  • St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin
  • Sokaogon Chippewa Community, Wisconsin
  • Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin

Tribes Across Multiple States (Wisconsin)

Wyoming

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

See Also

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