Petitioners List for Federal Recognition by State

Last Updated: This information reflects the status as of March 3, 1998, as compiled by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Branch of Acknowledgment and Research.

This article provides a comprehensive overview of American Indian tribes actively seeking federal recognition from the United States Government as of March 3, 1998. Organized alphabetically by state, this document, originally prepared by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), specifically the Branch of Acknowledgment and Research (BAR), offers a snapshot into the complex and often lengthy process by which tribes pursue official acknowledgment of their sovereign status. Understanding this Petitioners List for Federal Recognition by State requires grasping the significance of federal recognition itself.

Federal recognition is a crucial designation granted by the U.S. government to American Indian tribes. It acknowledges the tribe’s existence as a distinct political entity with a government-to-government relationship with the United States. This recognition carries with it a multitude of rights and privileges, including eligibility for certain federal programs and services, the ability to exercise self-governance, and the protection of tribal lands and resources. The absence of federal recognition can severely limit a tribe’s ability to protect its cultural heritage, manage its affairs, and ensure the well-being of its members.

The process of obtaining federal recognition is rigorous and demanding, governed by specific criteria outlined in Title 25 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 83. Petitioning tribes must demonstrate continuous existence as a distinct community from historical times to the present, maintain political influence or authority over their members, provide a copy of the group’s governing document, and prove that their membership consists of individuals who descend from the historical tribe. The BIA’s Branch of Acknowledgment and Research is responsible for evaluating these petitions, a process that can take many years and often involves extensive historical, anthropological, and genealogical research.

The following list represents tribes that had formally expressed their intent to petition for federal recognition and were actively pursuing this goal as of March 3, 1998. It is important to note that the status of these tribes may have changed significantly since then. Some may have achieved federal recognition, while others may have had their petitions declined or withdrawn. This document serves as a historical record of the tribes engaged in this pursuit during that specific period. This Petitioners List for Federal Recognition by State offers valuable insight into the challenges and aspirations of these communities.

ALABAMA

Principal Creek Indian Nation East of the Mississippi: As of 1998, this group had been declined acknowledgement in 1985, and contact information was outdated.
(aka Creek Nation East of the Mississippi): Acknowledged in 1984.
Cherokees of Jackson County, Alabama: Contact information for this group was outdated as of 1998.
Mowa Band of Choctaw Indians: This band had received a final determination to decline acknowledgement in December 1997.
MaChis Lower Alabama Creek Indian Tribe: Declined acknowledgement in 1988.
Cherokees of Southeast Alabama: Contact information for this group was outdated, with the contact person marked as deceased.
The Langley Band of the Chickamogee Cherokee Indians of the Southeastern United States: Contact information for this group was outdated.

ALASKA

Tsimshian Tribal Council: This council had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Katalla-Chilkat Tlingit Tribe of Alaska: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Chilkoot Kaagwaantaan Clan: This clan had filed a letter of intent to petition.

ARIZONA

San Juan Southern Paiute: Acknowledged in 1990.

ARKANSAS

Revived Ouachita Indians of Arkansas and America: This group had filed a letter of intent to petition.

CALIFORNIA

Ione Band of Miwok Indians: Status clarified administratively in 1994.
Mono Lake Indian Community: This community had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Washoe/Paiute of Antelope Valley: This group had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Antelope Valley Paiute Tribe: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.
United Maidu Nation: This nation had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Kern Valley Indian Community: This community had filed a letter of intent to petition.
United Lumbee Nation of North Carolina and America: Declined acknowledgement in 1985.
Coastal Band of Chumash Indians: This band had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation (formerly American Indian Council of Mariposa County, aka Yosemite): This nation had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Shasta Nation: This nation had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Juaneno Band of Mission Indians: This band had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Juaneno Band of Mission Indians: This band had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Tolowa Nation: This nation had filed a letter of intent to petition.
North Fork Band of Mono Indians: This band had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Dunlap Band of Mono Indians (Mono Tribal Council of Dunlap): This band had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Nor-El-Muk Band of Wintu Indians (formerly Hayfork Band of Nor-El-Muk Wintu Indians of Northern California): This band had filed a letter of intent to petition.
San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians: This band had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Wintu Indians of Central Valley, California: Contact information for this group was outdated.
Wintoon Indians: Contact information for this group was outdated.
Chukchansi Yokotch Tribe: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Yokayo Tribe of Indians: Contact information for this tribe was outdated.
Wukchumni Council: Contact information for this council was outdated.
Choinumni Council: Contact information for this council was outdated.
Coastanoan Band of Carmel Mission Indians: This band had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Ohlone/Costanoan Muwekma Tribe aka Muwekma Indian Tribe: Costanoan/Ohlone Indian Families of the San Francisco Bay: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Indian Canyon Band of Coastanoan/Mutsun Indians: This band had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Salinan Nation aka Salinan-Chumash Nation: This nation had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Amah Band of Ohlone/Costanoan Indians: This band had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Tsnungwe Council: This council had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Esselen/Coastanoan Tribe of Monterey County (formerly Esselen Tribe of Monterey Council): This tribe had withdrawn its letter of intent to petition in 1996.
Ohlone/Costanoan – Esselen Nation: This nation had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Chukchansi Yokotch Tribe of Mariposa CA.: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Wintu Tribe of Northern California: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Salinan Tribe of Monterey County: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Gabrielino/Tongva Nation: This nation had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Gabrielino/Tongva Indians of California Tribal Council: This council had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Costanoan-Rumsen Carmel Tribe: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Costoanoan Ohlone Rumsen-Mutsen Tribe: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Federated Coast Miwok: This group had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Fernandeno/Tataviam Tribe: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Wadatkuht Band of the Northern Paiutes of the Honey Lake Valley: This band had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Oakbrook Chumash People aka Ish Panesh Band of Mission Indians: This band had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Tinoqui-Chalola Council of Kitanemuk and Yowlumne Tejon Indians: This council had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Ani Yvwi Yuchi: This group had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Coastal Gabrieleno Diegueno Band of Mission Indians: This band had filed a letter of intent to petition.

COLORADO

Munsee Thames River Delaware: Declined acknowledgement in 1983.
Council for the Benefit of the Colorado Winnebagoes: Contact information for this council was outdated.

CONNECTICUT

Eastern Pequot Indians of Connecticut: This group had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Schaghticoke Indian Tribe: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Golden Hill Paugussett Tribe: Final determination to decline published in 1996; petitioner requested reconsideration.
Paucatuck Eastern Pequot Indians of Connecticut: This group had filed a letter of intent to petition.
The Mohegan Tribe & Nation: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.
The Nehantic Tribe and Nation: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.

DELAWARE

Nanticoke Indian Association: Requested petition be placed on hold in 1989.

FLORIDA

Creeks East of the Mississippi: Declined acknowledgement in 1981.
Florida Tribe of Eastern Creek Indians: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Apalachicola Band of Creek Indians: This band had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Tuscola United Cherokee Tribe of Florida and Alabama, Inc.: Withdrew at petitioner’s request in 1997.
Seminole Nation of Florida [aka Traditional Seminole]: Referred to SOL for determination in 1990.
Oklewaha Band of Yamassee Seminole Indians: This band had filed a letter of intent to petition.

GEORGIA

Lower Muskogee Creek Tribe-East of the Mississippi, Inc.: Declined acknowledgement in 1981.
Cherokee Indians of Georgia, Inc.: This group had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Southeastern Cherokee Confederacy, Inc.: Declined acknowledgement in 1985.
Georgia Tribe of Eastern Cherokees, Inc.: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Cane Break Band of Eastern Cherokees: Rejoined #041 in 1997.
SouthEastern Indian Nation: Requested removal from petitioning process in 1997.

IDAHO

Delawares of Idaho, Inc.: This group had filed a letter of intent to petition.

INDIANA

Miami Nation of Indians of the State of Indiana, Inc.: Declined acknowledgement in 1992.
Upper Kispoko Band of the Shawnee Nation: Contact information for this group was outdated.

KANSAS

Delaware-Muncie: This group had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Wyandot Nation of Kansas: This nation had filed a letter of intent to petition.
United Tribe of Shawnee Indians: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.

LOUISIANA

Clifton-Choctaw Indians aka Clifton Choctaw Reservation Inc.: This group had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Choctaw-Apache Community of Ebarb, Inc.: This community had filed a letter of intent to petition.
United Houma Nation, Inc.: This nation had a proposed finding in 1994.
Biloxi, Chitimacha Confederation of Muskogees, Inc.: This group had filed a letter of intent to petition (separated from United Houma Nation).
Point au Chene Indian Tribe: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition (separated from United Houma Nation).
Caddo Adais Indians, Inc.: This group had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Apalachee Indian Tribe: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Apalachee Indians of Louisiana: This group had filed a letter of intent to petition.

MARYLAND

Piscataway-Conoy Confederacy and Sub-Tribes, Inc.: This confederacy had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Accohannock Indian Tribal Association, Inc.: This association had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Federation: Moorish Science Temple of America, Inc.: Determined ineligible to petition in 1997.

MASSACHUSETTS

Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribal Council, Inc.: This council had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Nipmuc Nation (Hassanamisco Band): This nation had a proposed finding in progress.
Chaubunagungamaug Band of the Nipmuck Nation, Webster/Dudley: This band had a proposed finding in progress.
Cowasuck Band-Abenaki People: This band had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Pocasset Wampanoag Indian Tribe: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.

MICHIGAN

Consolidated Bahwetig Ojibwas and Mackinac Tribe: Contact information for this tribe was outdated.
Potawatomi Indians of Indiana and Michigan, Inc.: Merged with 078 Legislatively acknowledged March 1994.
Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Inc.: This band had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Lake Superior Chippewa of Marquette, Inc.: This group had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Swan Creek Black River Confederated Ojibwa Tribes, Inc.: This group had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians (formerly Grand River Band Ottawa Council): This band had filed a letter of intent to petition.
The Chi-cau-gon Band of Lake Superior Chippewa of Iron County: This band had filed a letter of intent to petition.

MINNESOTA

Kah-Bay-Kah-Nong (Warroad Chippewa): Contact information for this group was outdated.
Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community: This community had filed a letter of intent to petition.

MISSOURI

Northern Cherokee Tribe of Indians of Missouri and Arkansas: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Sac River and White River Bands of the Chickamauga-Cherokee Nation of Arkansas and Missouri Inc. (formerly Northern Chickamauga Cherokee Nation of Arkansas and Missouri): This band had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Northern Cherokee Nation of the Old Louisiana Territory: This nation had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Amonsoquath Tribe of Cherokee: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.

MONTANA

Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana: This tribe had a proposed finding in progress.
Ahon-to-ays Ojibwa Band aka Rocky Boy Ojibway Band: This band had an incomplete letter of intent to petition.

NEVADA

Pahrump Band of Paiutes: This band had filed a letter of intent to petition.

NEW JERSEY

Ramapough Mountain Indians, Inc.: Final determination to decline published in 1996; request for reconsideration to IBIA; decision affirmed 7/18/97.
Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Indians: This group had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Powhatan Renape Nation: This nation had filed a letter of intent to petition.

NEW MEXICO

Piro/Manso/Tiwa Indian Tribe of the Pueblo of San Juan de Guadalupe: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Canoncito Band of Navajos: This band had filed a letter of intent to petition.

NEW YORK

Montauk Indian Nation: This nation had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Western Mohegan Tribe & Nation of New York: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.

NORTH CAROLINA

Hatteras Tuscarora Indians: Determined ineligible to petition (SOL opinion of 10/23/1989).
Coree (aka Faircloth Indians): This group had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Cherokee Indians of Robeson and Adjoining Counties: Determined ineligible to petition (SOL opinion of 10/23/1989).
Hattadare Indian Nation: This nation had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe, Inc.: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Lumbee Regional Development Association Inc.: Determined ineligible to petition (SOL opinion of 10/23/1989).
Kaweah Indian Nation, Inc.: Contact information for this group was outdated. Declined to acknowledge in 1985.
Tuscarora Indian Tribe, Drowning Creek Reservation: Determined ineligible to petition (SOL opinion of 10/23/1989). Group formally dissolved, notification to BIA 02/19/1997.
Coharie Intra-Tribal Council, Inc.: Contact information for this council was outdated.
Waccamaw Siouan Development Association, Inc.: Determined eligible to petition (SOL letter of 6/29/1995).
Cherokee Indians of Hoke County, Inc.: Determined ineligible to petition (SOL opinion of 10/23/1989).
Indians of Person County (formerly Cherokee-Powhattan Indian Association): This group had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Tuscarora Nation of North Carolina: Contact information for this nation was outdated. Determined ineligible to petition (SOL opinion of 10/23/1989).
Meherrin Indian Tribe: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Meherrin Indian Tribe: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Occaneechi Band of Saponi Nation: This band had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Eno-Occaneechi Tribe of Indians: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.

NORTH DAKOTA

Little Shell Band of North Dakota: This band had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Christian Pembina Chippewa Indians: This group had filed a letter of intent to petition.

OHIO

Shawnee Nation United Remnant Band: This band had filed a letter of intent to petition.
North Eastern U.S. Miami Inter-Tribal Council: This council had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Alleghenny Nation Indian Center (Ohio Band): This center had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Piqua Sept of Ohio Shawnee Indians: This group had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Saponi Nation of Ohio: This nation had filed a letter of intent to petition.

OKLAHOMA

Yuchi Tribal Organization: This organization had a proposed finding published in 1995.

OREGON

Northwest Cherokee Wolf Band, Southeastern Cherokee Confederacy, Inc.: Declined acknowledgement in 1985.
Tchinouk Indians: Declined acknowledgement in 1986.
Confederated Tribes – Rogue – Table Rock & Associated Tribes, Inc.: This group had filed a letter of intent to petition.

RHODE ISLAND

Pokanoket Tribe of the Wampanoag Nation: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Four Hole Indian Organization, Edisto Tribal Council: This council had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Santee Indian Organization (formerly White Oak Indian Community): This organization had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Waccamaw – Siouan Indian Association: Contact information for this association was outdated.
Chicora Indian Tribe of South Carolina, Formerly Chicora-Siouan Indian People: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.
The Chicora-Waccamaw Indian People: This group had filed a letter of intent to petition.
PeeDee Indian Association, Inc.: This association had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Beaver Creek Band of Pee Dee Indians: This band had filed a letter of intent to petition.

TENNESSEE

Red Clay Inter-tribal Indian Band, Southeastern Cherokee Confederacy, Inc.: Declined acknowledgement in 1985.
Etowah Cherokee Nation: Contact information for this nation was outdated.

TEXAS

Blount Band of Apalachicola Creek Indians: This band had Letters of Intent to Petition, 1990, 01/17/1996
Texas Band of Traditional Kickapoo: Part of OK Kickapoo Tribe 09/14/1981 Petition Withdrawn
The People of LaJunta (Jumano/Mescalero): This group had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Tap Pilam: The Coahuiltecan Nation: This nation had filed a letter of intent to petition.

VERMONT

St. Francis/Sokoki Band of Abenakis of Vermont, Abenaki Tribal Council: This council had filed a letter of intent to petition.

VIRGINIA

Ani-Stohini/Unami Nation: This nation had filed a letter of intent to petition.
Mattaponi Tribe (Mattaponi Indian Reservation): This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.

WASHINGTON

Steilacoom Tribe: This tribe had a proposed finding in progress.
Snohomish Tribe of Indians: This tribe had a proposed finding in 1983; comment period extended indefinitely.
Samish Tribe of Indians: Final Determination to acknowledge 4/26/96
Duwamish Tribe: This tribe had a proposed finding published in 1996.
Chinook Indian Tribe/Chinook Nation: This nation had a proposed finding published in 1997.
Snoqualmoo Tribe of Whidbey Island: This tribe had filed a letter of intent to petition.

WISCONSIN

Brothertown Indians of Wisconsin: This group had filed a letter of intent to petition.

This Petitioners List for Federal Recognition by State underscores the ongoing efforts of numerous American Indian tribes to achieve formal recognition from the U.S. government. The list, though dated, serves as a valuable resource for understanding the historical context of federal recognition and the persistent pursuit of self-determination by these communities.

For more information, please contact:

Bureau of Indian Affairs
Branch of Acknowledgment and Research
Mail Stop 4603-MIB
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20240

Phone: (202) 208-3592
FAX (202) 219-3008

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