List of Native American Tribes Recognized by the Federal Government

List of Native American Tribes: Federal recognition means that tribes have a special legal bond with the U.S. government, giving them access to federal help when needed. There are almost 574 officially recognized tribes in the United States, as listed by the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Some members of these tribes, like Tom Cole from the Chickasaw Nation, have been elected to represent their states in the U.S. Congress. Tom Cole has been serving as a representative for Oklahoma since 2002.

Check the list of native American Tribes Recognized by the Federal Government in detail.

List of Native American Tribes Recognized by the Federal Government

Federally recognized tribes are Native American groups recognized by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs as having a special relationship with the federal government. Except for Hawaii, states without federally recognized tribes today removed tribes from their land in the 19th century. This often involved forcing them westward, especially to Indian Territory, which is now Oklahoma. In the U.S., these tribes operate as their governments.

Tribe Name	Location
Colville Confederated Tribes	Washington
Blackfeet Nation	Montana
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians	Oregon
Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation	Washington
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community	Michigan
Burns Paiute Tribe	Oregon
Grand Ronde Tribes	Oregon
Hopi	Arizona
Karuk Tribe	California
Lytton Rancheria of California	California
Nez Perce Tribe	Idaho
Pamunkey Indian Tribe	Virginia
Pascua Yaqui Tribe	Arizona
Pueblo of Zuni	New Mexico
Quechan Tribe	California
San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe of Arizona	Arizona
Tonto Apache Tribe	Arizona
Cahuilla Band of Indians	California
Cayuga Nation	New York
Cocopah Indian Tribe	Arizona

Colville Confederated Tribes – Washington

• Located in northeastern Washington state.
• Comprised of twelve distinct tribes and bands.
• Own and operate several enterprises, including a casino, resort, and timber business.
• Offer various cultural and educational programs to preserve and promote tribal heritage.
• Engage in natural resource management and conservation efforts.
• Actively participate in legal and political advocacy to protect tribal rights and sovereignty.

Blackfeet Nation – Montana

• Located in northwestern Montana, near Glacier National Park.
• One of the largest Native American tribes in Montana.
• Known for their rich cultural heritage, including traditional ceremonies and dances.
• Operate businesses such as agriculture, tourism, and gaming.
• Face challenges related to economic development, healthcare, and preserving cultural traditions.
• Engage in environmental stewardship and natural resource management efforts.

Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians – Oregon

• Located along the central coast of Oregon.
• Comprised of various Native American tribes, including Siletz, Tillamook, and Chinook.
• Offer social services, healthcare, and educational programs to tribal members.
• Operate a casino and other businesses to generate revenue for the tribe.
• Promote cultural preservation through language revitalization and traditional arts.
• Engage in community development initiatives to improve infrastructure and housing.

Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation – Washington

• Located in southwestern Washington state.
• Consists of the Upper and Lower Chehalis tribes.
• Operate a variety of businesses, including a casino, hotel, and golf course.
• Offer healthcare, education, and social services to tribal members.
• Promote cultural preservation through language programs and traditional events.
• Engage in environmental conservation efforts to protect natural resources.

Keweenaw Bay Indian Community – Michigan

• Located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
• Comprised of two Ojibwa tribes, the Keweenaw Bay and L’Anse Indian tribes.
• Operate businesses such as a casino, convenience stores, and a hotel.
• Offer healthcare, education, and housing assistance programs.
• Focus on cultural preservation through language revitalization and traditional practices.
• Engage in natural resource management and environmental protection initiatives.

Burns Paiute Tribe – Oregon

• Located in eastern Oregon near the town of Burns.
• Comprised of the Wadatika band of Paiutes.
• Operate the Burns Paiute Tribal Museum to preserve and share their culture.
• Engage in economic development through ventures such as a casino and tourism.
• Provide social services, healthcare, and education programs for tribal members.
• Actively participate in environmental conservation efforts to protect tribal lands.

Grand Ronde Tribes – Oregon

• Located in western Oregon, near the city of Salem.
• Comprised of several Native American tribes, including the Umpqua and Kalapuya.
• Operate the Spirit Mountain Casino, a major source of revenue for the tribe.
• Offer cultural education programs, including language classes and traditional arts.
• Provide healthcare, housing, and social services to tribal members.
• Engage in environmental stewardship and natural resource management.

Hopi – Arizona

• Located in northeastern Arizona, primarily on the Hopi Reservation.
• One of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the United States.
• Known for their rich cultural heritage, including traditional ceremonies and art.
• Engage in agriculture, primarily dry farming techniques.
• Face challenges related to water rights and land management.
• Work to preserve their language and traditions through education and cultural programs.

Karuk Tribe – California

• Located in northwestern California, along the Klamath River.
• Known for their unique basket-weaving traditions and ceremonies.
• Engage in traditional subsistence practices such as fishing and gathering.
• Face challenges related to environmental degradation and resource management.
• Operate businesses such as a casino and cultural center to generate revenue.
• Advocate for tribal rights and sovereignty, including issues related to land and water.

Lytton Rancheria of California – California

• Located in northern California, near the city of Santa Rosa.
• Comprised of the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians.
• Operate the San Pablo Lytton Casino as a major economic venture.
• Provide social services, healthcare, and education programs for tribal members.
• Engage in cultural preservation efforts, including language revitalization.
• Advocate for tribal sovereignty and rights, including land and recognition issues.

Nez Perce Tribe – Idaho

• Located in the Pacific Northwest, primarily in Idaho, with portions of their ancestral lands extending into Washington, Oregon, and Montana.
• Known for their skilled horsemanship and traditional Nez Perce Appaloosa horses.
• Engage in various cultural preservation efforts, including language revitalization programs and traditional ceremonies.
• Operate businesses such as casinos, timber, and agriculture to support tribal economic development.
• Advocate for environmental conservation and protection of natural resources.
• Provide social services, healthcare, education, and housing programs for tribal members.

Pamunkey Indian Tribe – Virginia

• One of the oldest federally recognized tribes in the United States, located in eastern Virginia.
• Known for their rich history and cultural heritage, including traditional Powhatan ceremonies and crafts.
• Engage in economic development through ventures such as gaming, tourism, and agriculture.
• Operate social services, healthcare, and education programs for tribal members.
• Pursue cultural preservation efforts, including language revitalization and historical preservation projects.
• Advocate for tribal sovereignty and recognition, including efforts to protect ancestral lands.

Pascua Yaqui Tribe – Arizona

• Located near Tucson, Arizona, with ancestral lands extending into Mexico.
• Known for their vibrant culture, including traditional dances, music, and arts.
• Operate businesses such as casinos, resorts, and golf courses to support tribal economic development.
• Provide social services, healthcare, education, and housing programs for tribal members.
• Engage in cultural preservation efforts, including language revitalization and traditional ceremonies.
• Advocate for tribal rights, including issues related to land and water rights.

Pueblo of Zuni – New Mexico

• Located in western New Mexico, the Pueblo of Zuni is one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the United States.
• Known for their intricate pottery, jewelry, and traditional Zuni fetishes.
• Engage in agriculture, primarily dry farming techniques, and traditional ceremonies.
• Operate businesses such as tourism ventures, arts and crafts, and a tribal radio station.
• Provide social services, healthcare, education, and housing programs for tribal members.
• Advocate for cultural preservation, environmental conservation, and tribal sovereignty.

Quechan Tribe – California

• Located in southeastern California along the Colorado River near the Arizona border.
• Known for their traditional ceremonies, including the Quechan Bird Songs.
• Engage in economic development through ventures such as gaming, tourism, and agriculture.
• Provide social services, healthcare, education, and housing programs for tribal members.
• Advocate for environmental conservation and protection of sacred sites.
• Pursue cultural preservation efforts, including language revitalization and traditional arts.

San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe of Arizona – Arizona

• Located in northern Arizona near the Arizona-Utah border.
• Comprised of Southern Paiute people with a distinct cultural identity.
• Engage in traditional practices such as farming, hunting, and basket weaving.
• Operate businesses such as tourism ventures and cultural centers.
• Provide social services, healthcare, education, and housing programs for tribal members.
• Advocate for environmental conservation and preservation of ancestral lands.

Tonto Apache Tribe – Arizona

• Located in central Arizona, near the town of Payson.
• Known for their traditional crafts, including basketry and beadwork.
• Operate businesses such as a casino, hotel, and campground to support tribal economic development.
• Provide social services, healthcare, education, and housing programs for tribal members.
• Engage in cultural preservation efforts, including language revitalization and traditional ceremonies.
• Advocate for tribal sovereignty and recognition, including efforts to protect ancestral lands.

Cahuilla Band of Indians – California

• Located in southern California, primarily in Riverside County.
• Known for their traditional knowledge of desert plants and sustainable land management practices.
• Engage in economic development through ventures such as gaming, agriculture, and tourism.
• Provide social services, healthcare, education, and housing programs for tribal members.
• Pursue cultural preservation efforts, including language revitalization and traditional arts.
• Advocate for environmental conservation and protection of tribal lands.

Cayuga Nation – New York

• Located in central New York, primarily in Cayuga County.
• One of the six nations of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy.
• Known for their traditional longhouses and participatory democracy.
• Engage in agriculture, primarily corn, beans, and squash, known as the Three Sisters.
• Operate businesses such as gaming, agriculture, and retail to support tribal economic development.
• Provide social services, healthcare, education, and housing programs for tribal members.

Cocopah Indian Tribe – Arizona

• Located in southwestern Arizona, along the Colorado River.
• Known for their traditional basket weaving and pottery.
• Engage in economic development through ventures such as gaming, agriculture, and tourism.
• Provide social services, healthcare, education, and housing programs for tribal members.
• Engage in environmental conservation efforts, including water management and restoration projects.
• Advocate for tribal rights and sovereignty, including issues related to land and water rights.

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List of Native American Tribes – FAQs

How many native tribes are federally recognized in the US?

There are almost 574 officially recognized tribes in the United States, as listed by the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs.

What is the largest federally recognized Indian tribe?

The Largest American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes and Villages in the Nation, Tribal Areas and States. Navajo Nation was the most frequent response among people who identified as a single detailed American Indian group in the 2020 Census, according to new data recently released by the Census Bureau.

How many federally recognized tribes are there in the United States quizlet?

There are 574 federally recognized Indian Nations (variously called tribes, nations, bands, pueblos, communities and native villages) in the United States.

How many tribes are not federally recognized in the US?

Of the approximately 400 non-federally recognized tribes that GAO identified, 26 received funding from 24 federal programs during fiscal years 2007 through 2010.

Where are the most federally recognized 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, 231 are located in Alaska and 109 are located in California.

What is the smallest federally recognized tribe?

It was not so long ago that the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians was considered the smallest Native American tribe in the entire country. Once down to just eight people, the Augustine Band’s population is still tiny, with only about 20 enrolled members.