Our Notes
While doing research for this page, we noticed there are many lists out there that will tell you which tribes are federally recognized and which tribes are state recognized, but there are very few sites that will tell you what either means, or even what the difference is between the two.
Even when we found federal documents that list “federally recognized” tribes, there was still no clear answer. And, to make matters worse, the term “non-federally recognized” is thrown around like that should give us a clue.
What we did find however, were links to some very important government and legal websites (see Links below) that we think every Native American should visit on a continuous basis, as they may, in the future, hold information that can shape our own individual future.
But for now, June 2008, we must live with the hope that when the BIA’s Indian Affairs website is reconnected (as was court ordered on May 14, 2008), internet access to the BIA will provide answers we currently are unable to get.
Click here to go to the BIA’s website, and while you’re there, visit their Useful Links page for a host of other government agency links.
In summary, the May 14th court order ruled that the following government offices, which are of concern to many Native Americans, are reconnected to the internet:
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
Office of Hearing and Appeals (OHA)
Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians (OST)
Office of Historical Trust Accounting (OHTA)
This of course, does not mean we will have access to all of the records of all of these agencies on the internet, or even that the information provided on these websites will be particularly helpful, but it is a step in the right direction and will potentially give us more information than we currently have.