List of organizations that self-identify as Native American tribes


These organizations, located within the United States, self-identify as Native American tribes, heritage groups, or descendant communities, but they are not federally recognized or state-recognized as Native American tribes. The U.S. Governmental Accountability Office states: "Non-federally recognized tribes fall into two distinct categories: state-recognized tribes that are not also federally recognized and other groups that self-identify as Indian tribes but are neither federally nor state recognized." The following list includes the latter.
For organizations that are recognized by the government of the United States as Native American tribes and tribal nations, see List of federally recognized tribes in the contiguous United States and List of Alaska Native tribal entities. For groups that are recognized by state governments as Native American tribes, see State-recognized tribes in the United States.
Many of these organizations are not accepted as being Native American by established Native American tribes. Exceptions exist, including tribes whose previous recognition was terminated, especially in California under the California Rancheria Termination Acts. Certain historic tribes in California signed treaties in 1851 and 1852 that the U.S. Senate secretly rejected after being pressured by the state of California; many of these historic tribes remain unrecognized.
The following groups claim to be of Native American, which includes American Indian and Alaska Native, or Métis heritage by ethnicity but have no federal recognition through the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Federal Acknowledgment, United States Department of the Interior Office of the Solicitor, and are not recognized by any state government in the United States.
Some of the organizations are regarded as fraudulent. Some organizations are described as Corporations Posing as Indigenous Nations.
Non-recognized tribes is a term for "groups that have no federal designation and are not accepted as sovereign entities under U.S. law," which includes state-recognized tribes. "An additional sub-designation under this classification are 'Federally Non-Recognized' tribes, which includes groups that have previously held federal recognition, either under governments prior to the U.S. Federal Government or as Nations that are no longer in existence and/or no longer meet the criteria as a Nation to have sovereignty status."
Indigenous communities in the Pacific such as Native Hawaiians, Samoan Americans, Chamorro people of Guam, and Indigenous peoples of the Northern Mariana Islands are classified as Pacific Indigenous Communities and are not organized into tribes.

Caribbean

This list also includes some groups from non-sovereign U.S. territories outside the contiguous United States, especially Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, that identify as having Caribbean Indigenous heritage and which also lack formal recognition. Groups outside the 48 contiguous states and Alaska are currently ineligible for federal recognition. Some of these groups are represented on the International Indian Treaty Council under the United Confederation of Taíno People, which has campaigned nationally and at the United Nations for the United States to recognize such groups.

List of groups self-identifying as American Indian tribes

Following is a list of groups known to self-identify as Native American tribes but that are not recognized by the U.S. federal government or by any state government.

Alabama

  1. Cherokee Nation of Alabama. Letter of Intent to Petition 02/16/1999.
  2. Cherokee River Indian Community, Moulton, AL. Letter of Intent to Petition 08/03/2000. Receipt of Petition 08/03/2000.
  3. Chickamauga Cherokee of Alabama.
  4. Chickmaka Band of the South Cumberland Plateau.
  5. Coweta Creek Tribe, Phenix City, AL. Letter of Intent to Petition 2/12/2003.
  6. Eagle Bear Band of Free Cherokees.
  7. The Langley Band of the Chickamogee Cherokee Indians of the Southeastern United States, aka Langley Band of Chickamogee of Cherokee Indians, Birmingham, AL Letter of Intent to Petition 04/20/1994; Postal service certified letter returned 11/5/1997.
  8. Phoenician Cherokee II – Eagle Tribe of Sequoyah, Gadsden, AL Letter of Intent to Petition 09/18/2001.
  9. Powhatan Nation of American Indians, Enterprise, AL
  10. Principal Creek Indian Nation East of the Mississippi, Florala, AL. Letter of Intent to Petition 11/09/1971. Declined to Acknowledge 06/10/1985 50 FR 14302; certified letter returned "not known" 10/1997.
  11. Wolf Creek Cherokee Tribe, Inc. of Florida. Also in Florida.

    Alaska

  12. Chilkoot Kaagwaantaan Clan, Haines, AK. Letter of Intent to Petition 4/22/1997.
  13. Five Landless Alaska Tlingit communities. These Tlingit communities were omitted from the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and received neither land nor subsistence rights under the Act.
  14. Katalla-Chilkat Tlingit Tribe of Alaska, Juneau, AK. Letter of Intent to Petition 02/02/1995; certified letter returned by P.O. 10/1997.
  15. Knugank, Dillingham, AK. Letter of Intent to Petition 1/7/1999.
  16. Qutekcak Native Tribe, Seward, AK. Letter of Intent to Petition 2/13/2002. Receipt of Petition 2/13/2002.
  17. Tsimshian Tribal Council, Ketchikan, AK. Letter of Intent to Petition 07/02/1978.
  18. Alexander Creek, Alexander Creek, AK

    Arizona

  19. American Cherokee Confederacy
  20. Arizona Cherokee Pioneers
  21. Barrio Pascua – a village of Yaqui on the Arizona-Mexico border region.
  22. Chiricahua Apache Ndeh Nation, Silver City, AZ
  23. The United Cherokee Nation – Western National Office. Also in Georgia. Supposed "clans" organized in these areas, often calling themselves as "Cherokee Nation of...": Alabama, Alaska, Alberta, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Cyprus, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

    Arkansas

  24. Amonsoquath Tribe of Cherokee, Van Buren, MO
  25. Arkansas Band of Western Cherokee, Sulphur Springs, AR. Letter of Intent to Petition 04/07/1998.
  26. Arkansas Cherokee, Conway, AR. Letter of Intent to Petition 03/21/2008.
  27. Arkansas Cherokee Nation, Conway, AR
  28. Arkansas White River Cherokee, Lady Lake, FL
  29. Central Tribal Council, Mammoth Springs, AR. Letter of Intent to Petition 01/21/2003. Receipt of Petition 01/21/2003.
  30. Cherokee Nation West of Missouri and Arkansas. Letter of Intent to Petition 5/11/1998. Also in Missouri.
  31. Cherokee-Choctaw Nation of St. Francis and Black Rivers, Paragould, AR. Letter of Intent to Petition 08/01/2006.
  32. Confederated Western Cherokees of Arkansas.
  33. Lost Cherokee of Arkansas and Missouri, Conway, AR. Letter of Intent to Petition 02/10/1999; letter returned, marked "in dispute" between two different addresses.
  34. # Lost Cherokee of Arkansas and Missouri. Faction in Conway, AR.
  35. # Lost Cherokee of Arkansas and Missouri. Faction in Dover, AR.
  36. Manataka American Indian Council, Hot Springs, AR
  37. Neches Tribe – Cherokee Nation, Hot Springs, AR
  38. Northern Cherokee Nation. Dissolved into three groups:
  39. # Chickamauga Cherokee Nation, also known as Chickamauga Cherokee Nation MO/AR White River Band and as White River Band of Northern Cherokee Nation of Missouri and Arkansas. Also in Missouri and Oklahoma. There is also a Chickamauga Cherokee Nation White River Band in Oklahoma.
  40. # Northern Cherokee Nation of the Old Louisiana Territory, Columbia, MO. Letter of Intent to Petition 2/19/1992. Also in Missouri.
  41. ## Kanasas District of NCNOLT.
  42. ## Oklahoma District of the NCNOLT.
  43. # Northern Cherokee Tribe of Indians of Missouri and Arkansas. Letter of Intent to Petition 07/26/1985. Also in Missouri.
  44. Old Settler Cherokee Nation of Arkansas. Letter of Intent to Petition 9/17/1999.
  45. Ouachita Cherokee of Cherokee Nation West, Mena, AR
  46. Ozark Mountain Cherokee Tribe of Arkansas and Missouri, Melbourne, AR. Letter of Intent to Petition 10/19/1999. Receipt of Petition 10/19/1999. Also in Missouri.
  47. Red Nation of the Cherokee, Augusta, KS Also in Kansas.
  48. Revived Ouachita Indians of Arkansas and America, Story, AR. Letter of Intent to Petition 04/25/1990.
  49. Sac River and White River Bands of the Chickamauga-Cherokee Nation of Arkansas and Missouri Inc., Chandler, OK. Letter of Intent to Petition 09/05/1991. Also in Missouri.
  50. Western Cherokee of Arkansas and Louisiana Territories. Letter of Intent to Petition 10/05/2001. Also in Missouri.
  51. Western Cherokee Nation of Arkansas and Missouri, Mena, AR. Letter of Intent to Petition 05/01/1998. Also in Missouri.
  52. Western Cherokee Nation of Arkansas and Missouri, Conway, AR. Separate from the Mena group, this Conway group was represented by Cary G. Kuykendall.

    California

  53. Alexander Valley Mishewal Wappo, also Mishewal Wappo Indians of Alexander Valley
  54. Alexander Valley Rancheria, formerly federally recognized, terminated on August 1, 1961
  55. band of Ohlone/Costanoan Indians. Letter of Intent to Petition 09/18/1990.
  56. Amonsoquath Tribe of Cherokee. Letter of Intent to Petition. Also in Missouri.
  57. Ani Yvwi Yuchi. Letter of Intent to Petition 7/31/1996.
  58. Antelope Valley Paiute Tribe. Letter of Intent to Petition 07/09/1976.
  59. Atahun Shoshones of San Juan Capistrano
  60. Barbareño/Ventureño Band of Mission Indians. Letter of Intent to Petition 01/17/2002. Receipt of Petition 01/17/2002.
  61. Big Meadows Lodge Tribe
  62. Binay Yeha Noha Bear Clan Tribe Letter of Intent to Petition 08/31/2020
  63. Cache Creek Rancheria, formerly federally recognized, terminated on April 11, 1961
  64. Calaveras County Band of Miwuk Indians, Letter of Intent to Petition 08/31/2001. also Calaveras Band of Miwuk Indians, West Point
  65. California Indian Council/Lulapin
  66. Callattakapa Choctaw Tribe. Letter of Intent to Petition 07/13/2004.
  67. Calusa-Seminole Nation. Letter of Intent to Petition 04/28/1998.
  68. Cherokee Nation Heritage Organization of California.
  69. The Cherokees of California.
  70. Chilula Tribe
  71. The Chiricahua Tribe of California. Letter of Intent to Petition 04/24/2003.
  72. Choctaw Allen Tribe. Letter of Intent to Petition 10/20/2003.
  73. Choinumni Council. Letter of Intent to Petition 07/14/1988. Certified letter undeliverable 10/1997
  74. Chukchansi Yokotch Tribe of Mariposa CA. Letter of Intent to Petition 05/25/1993.
  75. Chumash Council of Bakersfield. Letter of Intent to Petition 10/18/2005.
  76. Coastal Band of Chumash. Letter of Intent to Petition 03/25/1982.
  77. Coastal Gabrieleño Diegueño Band of Mission Indians. Letter of Intent to Petition 3/18/1997.
  78. Coastanoan Band of Carmel Mission Indians. Letter of Intent to Petition 09/16/1988.
  79. Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe of the Colfax Rancheria
  80. Confederated Villages of Lisjan Nation Inc., Oakland, CA
  81. Confederation of Aboriginal Nations
  82. Costanoan Rumsen Carmel Tribe. Letter of Intent to Petition 08/24/1994.
  83. Costanoan Tribe of Santa Cruz and San Juan Bautista Missions. Letter of Intent to Petition 5/11/1999; Letter of Intent withdrawn 5/10/2000.
  84. Costoanoan Ohlone Rumsen-Mutsen Tribe. Letter of Intent to Petition 12/07/1994.
  85. Diegueño Band of San Diego Mission Indians. Letter of Intent to Petition 10/15/2003.
  86. The Displaced Elem Lineage Emancipated Members. Letter of Intent to Petition 05/11/1998.
  87. Dumna-Wo-Wah Tribal Government. Letter of Intent to Petition 01/22/2002. Receipt of Petition 01/22/2002 as "Dumna Tribal Council."
  88. Dunlap Band of Mono Indians. Letter of Intent to Petition 01/04/1984. Letter of Intent withdrawn 7/2/2002; Letter of Intent to Petition 8/9/2005.
  89. El Dolorado Rancheria, formerly federally recognized, terminated on July 16, 1966
  90. Eshom Valley Band of Michahai and Wuksachi. Letter of Intent to Petition 05/24/2005.
  91. Esselen/Coastanoan Tribe of Monterey County, also Esselen Tribe of Monterey Council. Letter of Intent to Petition 11/16/1992; withdrawn 11/15/1996.
  92. Fernandeño/Tataviam Tribe, also Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians. Letter of Intent to Petition 04/24/1995.
  93. Gabrieleño Band of Mission Indians of California. Letter of Intent to Petition 11/03/1998. Recognized only as band of the Gabrieliño-Tongva Tribe.
  94. First Nation of Ojibwe California, Fremont, CA
  95. Gabrieliño/Tongva Indians of California Tribal Council. Letter of Intent to Petition 08/14/1997. Recognized only as band of the Gabrieliño-Tongva Tribe.
  96. Gabrieliño/Tongva Nation. Letter of Intent to Petition 03/21/1994. Recognized only as band of the Gabrieliño-Tongva Tribe.
  97. Gabrieliño-Tongva Tribe, also known as the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians. In 1994, the State of California recognized the Gabrieliño-Tongva Tribe in Assembly Joint Resolution 96, Resolution Chapter 146 of the Statutes of 1994; however, it has no state-recognized tribes today. The tribe, however, has broken into several factions, some of whom are seeking federal recognition as separate tribes. The three largest and most prominent factions are:
  98. # Gabrieliño-Tongva Tribe, West Hills, CA, formerly the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians, led by Charles Alvarez
  99. # Gabrieleño/Tongva Tribal Council of San Gabriel, San Gabriel, CA, led by Anthony Morales
  100. # Gabrieleño/Tongva Nation, also Gabrieliño/Tongva Tribe of the Los Angeles Basin). In past years, bills have been introduced in the California legislature to create a Gabrieliño-Tongva Reservation for the tribe and grant the tribe gaming rights; however, these bills failed to make it to the Governor's desk. Senate Bill 1134 introduced on January 30, 2008, would have created the Gabrieliño/Tongva Reservation without giving the tribe gaming rights. However, when the principal author, Senator Oropeza, found out that the tribe would use the reservation for leverage to obtain gaming rights, she pulled her sponsorship of the bill.
  101. Honey Lake Maidu. Letter of Intent to Petition 06/01/2000. Receipt of Petition 06/01/2000.
  102. Hownonquet Community Association
  103. Indian Canyon Band of Coastanoan/Mutsun Indians. Letter of Intent to Petition 06/09/1989.
  104. Independence 14
  105. Indian Cultural Organization
  106. Indian Ranch Rancheria, formerly federally recognized, terminated on September 22, 1964
  107. Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation. Letter of Intent to Petition 3/8/1996. Decline to Acknowledge 12/03/2007.
  108. Kawaiisu Nation, Kernville, CA
  109. Kawaiisu Tribe of the Tejon Indian Reservation
  110. Kern Valley Indian Community, Lake Isabella, CA. Letter of Intent to Petition 02/27/1979.
  111. Konkow Valley Band of Maidu, Oroville, CA. Letter of Intent to Petition 08/20/1998.
  112. Maidu Nation. Letter of Intent to Petition 1/6/1977
  113. Mark West Rancheria, formerly federally recognized, terminated on April 11, 1961
  114. Melochundum Band of Tolowa Indians
  115. Mishkanaka
  116. Mission Creek Reservation, formerly federally recognized, terminated on July 14, 1970
  117. Miwok Tribe
  118. Monachi Indian Tribe. Letter of Intent to Petition 10/14/2004.
  119. Mono Lake Indian Community, Lee Vining, CA Letter of Intent to Petition 07/09/1976.
  120. Mono Lake Kootzaduka'a Tribe, Lee Vining, CA
  121. Muwekma Ohlone Tribe. Letter of Intent to Petition 05/09/1989. Declined to Acknowledge 9/17/2002 ; decision effective 12/16/2002.
  122. Nashville Eldorado Miwok Tribe. Letter of Intent to Petition 11/09/2004.
  123. Nevada City Rancheria, formerly federally recognized, terminated on September 22, 1961
  124. Nor-Rel-Muk Nation. Letter of Intent to Petition 01/05/1984.
  125. North Fork Band of Mono Indians. Letter of Intent to Petition 09/07/1983.
  126. North Valley Yokut Tribe. Letter of Intent to Petition 09/22/2000. Receipt of Petition 09/22/2000.
  127. Northern Band of Mono-Yokuts. Letter of Intent to Petition 08/22/2006.
  128. Northern Chumash Tribal Council, Baywood-Los Osos, CA
  129. Northern Maidu Maidu Tribe
  130. Northfolk Band of Mono Indians
  131. Ohlone/Costanoan-Esselen Nation. Letter of Intent to Petition 12/03/1992.
  132. Paskenta Band of Momlaki Indians
  133. Rancho San Timoteo Band of Serrano Indians
  134. Ruffeys Rancheria, formerly federally recognized, terminated on April 11, 1961
  135. San Cayetano Band of Cahuilla Indians or the Montoya Band of Cahuilla Indians
  136. Salinan Nation. Letter of Intent to Petition 10/10/1989.
  137. Salinan Tribe of Monterey & San Luis Obispo Counties. Letter of Intent to Petition 11/13/1993.
  138. San Fernando Band of Mission Indians. Letter of Intent to Petition 05/25/1995.
  139. San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians. Letter of Intent to Petition 10/18/1984.
  140. Shasta Nation. Letter of Intent to Petition 05/28/1982.
  141. She-Bel-Na Band of Mendocino Coast Pomo Indians. Letter of Intent to Petition 03/01/2006.
  142. Sierra Foothill Wuksachi Yokuts Tribe. Letter of Intent to Petition 05/11/1999.
  143. Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation, Mariposa, CA. Letter of Intent to Petition 04/24/1982.
  144. Strawberry Valley Rancheria, formerly federally recognized, terminated on April 11, 1961
  145. Tehatchapi Tribe of the Tejon Reservation
  146. Tinoqui-Chalola Council of Kitanemuk and Yowlumne Tejon Indians. Letter of Intent to Petition 01/16/1996.
  147. Tolowa Nation. Letter of Intent to Petition 01/31/1983.
  148. Tolowa-Tututni Tribe. Also in Oregon.
  149. Toulumne Algerine Band of Yokut. Letter of Intent to Petition 01/23/2006.
  150. Tuolumne Band of Cherokee Indians.
  151. Traditional Choinuymni Tribe. Letter of Intent to Petition 03/29/2000. Receipt of Petition 03/29/2000.
  152. T'Si-akim Maidu. Letter of Intent to Petition 11/16/1998.
  153. Tsnungwe Council. Letter of Intent to Petition 09/22/1992.
  154. United Lumbee Nation of North Carolina and America. Letter of Intent to Petition 04/28/1980; Declined to Acknowledge 07/02/1985. Also in North Carolina.
  155. United Maidu Nation. Letter of Intent to Petition 01/06/1977.
  156. Wadatkuht Band of the Northern Paiutes of the Honey Lake Valley. Letter of Intent to Petition 01/26/1995.
  157. Washoe/Paiute of Antelope Valley. Letter of Intent to Petition 07/09/1976.
  158. Winnemem Wintu Tribe, Redding, CA
  159. Wintoon Indians. Letter of Intent to Petition 10/26/1984; certified letter returned by P.O. 10/1997.
  160. The Wintoon Tribe of Northern California, Inc. Letter of Intent to Petition 04/27/2005.
  161. Wintu Indians of Central Valley, California. Letter of Intent to Petition 10/26/1984; certified letter returned by P.O. 10/1997.
  162. Wintu of Shasta-Toyon
  163. Wintu Tribe of Northern California. Letter of Intent to Petition 08/25/1993.
  164. Woodfords Community Council
  165. Wukchumni Council Letter of Intent to Petition 02/22/1988. Certified letter undeliverable 10/1997.
  166. Xolon Salinan Tribe, Bay Point, CA Letter of Intent to Petition 09/18/2001.
  167. Yak Tityu Tityu Yak Tiłhini, also yak tityu tityu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe of San Luis Obispo County and Region, YTT Northern Chumash Tribe, San Luis Obispo, CA
  168. Yamassee Native American Association of Nations, Van Nuys, CA
  169. Yaqui Nation of Southern California, Thousand Palms, CA
  170. Yaquis of Southern California, Borrego Springs, CA,
  171. Yokayo Tribe of Indians. Letter of Intent to Petition 03/09/1987. Certified letter returned by P.O. 10/1997
  172. Yosemite Mono Lake Paiute Indian Community. Letter of Intent to Petition 12/06/2005.