A federally recognized tribe is a sovereign government that has a formal nation-to-nation relationship with the United States. This recognition confirms the tribe’s political status as a distinct, self-governing community with inherent rights to self-determination. Federally recognized tribes appear on the official list maintained by the U.S. Department of the Interior and are eligible for federal services, protections, and programs provided through the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Recognition is not a cultural label — it is a legal and political acknowledgment of a tribe’s continuous existence as a sovereign nation.

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Why Federal Recognition Matters

Federal recognition affirms a tribe’s legal sovereignty, treaty rights, and responsibility to its citizens. For the Cherokee people, it protects our governments — the Cherokee Nation, the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians — from groups that falsely claim Cherokee identity or authority. Recognition ensures that only legitimate tribal governments can exercise self-governance, manage trust lands, and represent their people in legal and political matters. Understanding and respecting this distinction helps preserve our history, culture, and the integrity of real Cherokee Nationhood.

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