Tribal Council
Encyclopedia
A Tribal Council is either: (1) an association of Native American
bands in the United States
or First Nations
governments in Canada
, or (2) the governing body for certain tribes
within the United States or elsewhere (since ancient times). They are generally formed along regional, ethnic or linguistic
lines.
Nations are organized as Tribal Councils. The Navajo Nation
, or Dineh, were formally governed by the Navajo Tribal Council, known today as the Navajo Nation Council. The Crow Nation
in Montana
was once organized as the Crow Tribal Council. Currently, the Crow Nation, after a change in constitution whose legality is disputed, is organized as a three branch government with a ceremonial Crow Tribal General Council.
In Canada, the Indian band
, usually consisting of one main community, is the fundamental unit of government. Bands may unite to form a tribal council, but they need not do so. Bands that do not belong to a tribal council are said to be independent. Bands may and do withdraw from tribal councils. Furthermore, the authority that bands delegate to their tribal council varies, with some tribal councils serving as a strong, central organization while others are granted limited power by their members.
that is typically distinct from other tribes as a matter of geography, native language, religion and culture. The tribe
, usually comprising a single Reservation
(although some tribes have more than one, and many have none) is the basic unit of government. Depending on the state, recognized tribes are considered "domestic dependent nations"
, which gives then sovereign status somewhat comparable to the individual American States
. Different tribes may choose governance structures for themselves, but most tribes, using the democratic governments in which a Tribal Council or the equivalent functions as a legislative
body and an elected or appointed Chairman has an executive
role comparable to a President
or Prime Minister
. Although not necessarily required by US law to recognize legal principles of democracy, separation of powers, legal precedent, etc., most tribes have found it easier to deal with outside authorities if they do. On a few reservations such as the Hopi Reservation
, tribal government exists in parallel with the tribe's more traditional religious and secular government.
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
bands in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
or First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
governments in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, or (2) the governing body for certain tribes
Indian tribes
The India's tribal belts refer to contiguous areas of indigenous settlement of tribal people of India.-Northwest India:The Tribal Belt of Northwest India includes the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. The tribal people of this region have origins which precede the Vedic...
within the United States or elsewhere (since ancient times). They are generally formed along regional, ethnic or linguistic
Natural language
In the philosophy of language, a natural language is any language which arises in an unpremeditated fashion as the result of the innate facility for language possessed by the human intellect. A natural language is typically used for communication, and may be spoken, signed, or written...
lines.
Associations of tribes
Several Sovereign American IndianNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
Nations are organized as Tribal Councils. The Navajo Nation
Navajo Nation
The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...
, or Dineh, were formally governed by the Navajo Tribal Council, known today as the Navajo Nation Council. The Crow Nation
Crow Nation
The Crow, also called the Absaroka or Apsáalooke, are a Siouan people of Native Americans who historically lived in the Yellowstone River valley, which extends from present-day Wyoming, through Montana and into North Dakota. They now live on a reservation south of Billings, Montana and in several...
in Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
was once organized as the Crow Tribal Council. Currently, the Crow Nation, after a change in constitution whose legality is disputed, is organized as a three branch government with a ceremonial Crow Tribal General Council.
In Canada, the Indian band
First Nations Government (Canada)
The fundamental legal unit of government for Canadian First Nations is the band.-Band:A band is typically, but not always, composed of a single community. Many bands, especially in British Columbia, control multiple Indian reserves, that is, multiple parcels of land...
, usually consisting of one main community, is the fundamental unit of government. Bands may unite to form a tribal council, but they need not do so. Bands that do not belong to a tribal council are said to be independent. Bands may and do withdraw from tribal councils. Furthermore, the authority that bands delegate to their tribal council varies, with some tribal councils serving as a strong, central organization while others are granted limited power by their members.
Governing bodies
Tribal councils in the United States and Canada have a somewhat different status. In the United States, the term usually describes the governing body of a tribeTribe
A tribe, viewed historically or developmentally, consists of a social group existing before the development of, or outside of, states.Many anthropologists use the term tribal society to refer to societies organized largely on the basis of kinship, especially corporate descent groups .Some theorists...
that is typically distinct from other tribes as a matter of geography, native language, religion and culture. The tribe
Tribe
A tribe, viewed historically or developmentally, consists of a social group existing before the development of, or outside of, states.Many anthropologists use the term tribal society to refer to societies organized largely on the basis of kinship, especially corporate descent groups .Some theorists...
, usually comprising a single Reservation
Indian reservation
An American Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs...
(although some tribes have more than one, and many have none) is the basic unit of government. Depending on the state, recognized tribes are considered "domestic dependent nations"
Tribal sovereignty
Tribal sovereignty in the United States refers to the inherent authority of indigenous tribes to govern themselves within the borders of the United States of America. The federal government recognizes tribal nations as "domestic dependent nations" and has established a number of laws attempting to...
, which gives then sovereign status somewhat comparable to the individual American States
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
. Different tribes may choose governance structures for themselves, but most tribes, using the democratic governments in which a Tribal Council or the equivalent functions as a legislative
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
body and an elected or appointed Chairman has an executive
Executive (government)
Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term...
role comparable to a President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
or Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
. Although not necessarily required by US law to recognize legal principles of democracy, separation of powers, legal precedent, etc., most tribes have found it easier to deal with outside authorities if they do. On a few reservations such as the Hopi Reservation
Hopi Reservation
The Hopi Reservation, or simply Hopi, is a Native American reservation for the Hopi and Arizona Tewa people, surrounded entirely by the Navajo Nation, in Navajo and Coconino counties of Arizona, USA. The site in north-eastern Arizona has a land area of 2,531.773 sq mi and as of the 2000 census had...
, tribal government exists in parallel with the tribe's more traditional religious and secular government.
Alberta
- Athabasca Tribal Council
- Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations
- Four Nations Administration
- Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council
- Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council
- Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta
- Treaty 7 Management Corporation
- Western Cree Tribal Council
- Yellowhead Tribal Council
British Columbia
- Northern Shuswap Tribal CouncilNorthern Shuswap Tribal CouncilThe Northern Shuswap Tribal Council, also called the Cariboo Tribal Council, is a First Nations government in the Canadian province of British Columbia...
aka Cariboo Tribal Council - Carrier Chilcotin Tribal Council
- Carrier Sekani Tribal CouncilCarrier Sekani Tribal CouncilThe Carrier Sekani Tribal Council is a tribal council representing eight First Nations in the Central Interior of British Columbia...
- Fraser Canyon Indian AdministrationFraser Canyon Indian AdministrationThe Fraser Canyon Indian Administration is a First Nations tribal council government composed of five bands in the Fraser Canyon and Thompson Canyon areas of the Canadian province of British Columbia....
(Nlaka'pamuxNlaka'pamuxThe Nlaka'pamux , commonly called "the Thompson", and also Thompson River Salish, Thompson Salish, Thompson River Indians or Thompson River people) are an indigenous First Nations/Native American people of the Interior Salish language group in southern British Columbia...
) - In-SHUCK-ch (also Lower Stl'atl'imx Tribal CouncilLower Stl'atl'imx Tribal CouncilThe Lower Stl'atl'imx Tribal Council is a First Nations tribal council in British Columbia, Canada, comprising four band governments of the St'at'imc people:* N'quat'qua First Nation* Semahquam First Nation* Douglas First Nation...
, which includes N'quat'qua First Nation as well as In-SHUCK-ch) - Kaska Tribal CouncilKaska Tribal CouncilThe Kaska Tribal Council is a tribal council formed of three band governments of the Kaske Dena people in northern British Columbia and the Yukon Territory, Canada.-Member governments:The three member governments are the:...
- Kwakiutl District CouncilKwakiutl District CouncilThe Kwakiutl District Council, also spelled Kwakwewlth District Council and Kwakiuth District Council,, pronounced Kwagiulth District Council, is a First Nations Tribal Council based on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, based in the community of Campbell River, British Columbia in the...
- Lillooet Tribal CouncilLillooet Tribal CouncilThe Lillooet Tribal Council is the official English name of the largest tribal council of what is also known as the St'at'imc Nation, though not including all governments of St'at'imc peoples - the term St'at'imc Nation has another context of all St'at'imc peoples, not just those within this tribal...
(aka St'at'imc Nation, but does not include all St'at'imc) - Musgamagw Tsawataineuk Tribal CouncilMusgamagw Tsawataineuk Tribal CouncilThe Musgamagw Tsawataineuk is a First Nations tribal council based in the Queen Charlotte Strait region around northern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada....
- Naut'sa mawt Tribal CouncilNaut'sa Mawt Tribal CouncilNaut’sa mawt Tribal Council is a First Nation Tribal Council located in British Columbia, Canada, with offices in Tsawwassen and Nanaimo. NmTC advises and assists its 11 member Nations in the areas of Community Planning, Economic Development, Financial Management, Governance and Technical Services...
- Nicola Tribal AssociationNicola Tribal AssociationThe Nicola Tribal Association is the official name of what is also known as the Nicola Tribal Council and the Nicola Valley Tribal Council, is a First Nations Tribal Council composed of bands in the Nicola Valley, Thompson Canyon and Fraser Canyon areas of the Canadian province of British Columbia...
(Nlaka'pamuxNlaka'pamuxThe Nlaka'pamux , commonly called "the Thompson", and also Thompson River Salish, Thompson Salish, Thompson River Indians or Thompson River people) are an indigenous First Nations/Native American people of the Interior Salish language group in southern British Columbia...
and OkanaganOkanagan peopleThe Okanagan people, also spelled Okanogan, are a First Nations and Native American people whose traditional territory spans the U.S.-Canada boundary in Washington state and British Columbia...
) - Nisga'a Tribal CouncilNisga'a Tribal CouncilThe Nisga'a Tribal Council was the governing coalition of the band governments of the Nisga'a people. It replaced by the Nisga'a Lisims Government as the result of the signing of the Nisga'a Treaty with Canada and British Columbia....
- Nlaka'pamux Nation Tribal CouncilNlaka'pamux Nation Tribal CouncilThe Nlaka'pamux Nation Tribal Council, formerly the Fraser Thompson Indian Services Society, is a First Nations government Tribal Council comprising bands in the Fraser Canyon and Thompson Canyon areas of the Canadian province of British Columbia...
(does not include all Nlaka'pamux) - North Peace Tribal Council
- Northern Shuswap Tribal CouncilNorthern Shuswap Tribal CouncilThe Northern Shuswap Tribal Council, also called the Cariboo Tribal Council, is a First Nations government in the Canadian province of British Columbia...
- Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal CouncilNuu-chah-nulth Tribal CouncilThe Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council is a First Nations Tribal Council in the Canadian province of British Columbia, located on the west coast of Vancouver Island.- History :...
- Office of the Wet'suwet'en
- Okanagan Nation AllianceOkanagan Nation AllianceThe Okanagan Nation Alliance is a First Nations Tribal Council in the Canadian province of British Columbia, spanning the Nicola, Okanagan and Similkameen Districts of the Canadian province of British Columbia and also the Colville Indian Reservation in Washington state.-Member...
(includes Colville Reservation in US) - Shuswap Nation Tribal CouncilShuswap Nation Tribal CouncilThe Shuswap Nation Tribal Council is a First Nations Tribal Council in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Based in the Thompson and Shuswap Districts of the Central Interior, although including one band on the upper Columbia River in the East Kootenay region...
- Sto:lo NationStó:lo NationThe Sto:lo Nation is a First Nations Tribal Council in the Fraser Valley region of the Canadian province of British Columbia that is the tribal council for First Nations band governments in the area of Chilliwack, Abbotsford and at NIcomen Island. This tribal council should not be confused with...
- Stó:lō Tribal CouncilStó:lo Tribal CouncilThe Stó:lō Tribal Council is a First Nations Tribal Council in the Fraser Valley-Greater Vancouver region of the Canadian province of British Columbia that is the tribal council for First Nations band governments from Hope, at the south end of the Fraser Canyon down to Langley...
- Tsilhqot'in Tribal CouncilTsilhqot'in Tribal CouncilThe Tsilhqot'in Tribal Council, also known as the Tsilhqot'in National Government is a First Nations tribal council government located in the Chilcotin District of the Central Interior of the Canadian province of British Columbia, and also on the Fraser River near the city of Quesnel.Some...
- Tsimshian Tribal CouncilTsimshian Tribal CouncilThe Tsimshian Tribal Council was the governing coalition of the band governments of the Tsimshian people in Prince Rupert. In British Columbia, the governments of Canada started engaging in the British Columbia Treaty Process with First Nation bands in the province...
(defunct) - Treaty 8 Tribal AssociationTreaty 8 Tribal AssociationTreaty 8 Tribal Association are, five of the eight, Peace River Country bands who are signatories to the Treaty 8. They have joined together in an effort to negotiate with British Columbia and Canada outside the British Columbia Treaty Process.-Members:...
(northeastern BC)
Manitoba
- Dakota Ojibway Tribal CouncilDakota Ojibway Tribal CouncilThe Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council is an organization of First Nations communities in Manitoba, Canada. Its mission statement indicates that the council's purpose is to "facilitate in the transfer of local control and responsibility of programs and services to member bands".-History:DOTC was...
- Interlake Reserves Tribal Council
- Island Lake Tribal Council
- Keewatin Tribal Council
- Manitoba Keewatinook Ininew Okimowin
- Swampy Cree Tribal Council
- Western Region Tribal Council
- West Region Tribal Council
Ontario
- Bimose Tribal Council
- Independent First Nations AllianceIndependent First Nations AllianceIndependent First Nations Alliance is a non-profit Regional Chiefs' Council representing Ojibway and Oji-Cree First Nations in northern Ontario, Canada...
- Keewaytinook Okimakanak CouncilKeewaytinook Okimakanak CouncilKeewaytinook Okimakanak Council is a non-political Chiefs Council in northwestern Ontario, Canada, serving its six member-First Nations...
- Matawa First NationsMatawa First NationsMatawa First Nations , officially as the Matawa First Nations Management, Inc., is a non-profit Regional Chiefs' Council representing Ojibway and Cree First Nations in northern Ontario, Canada...
- North Shore Tribal Council
- Pwi-Di-Goo-Zing Ne-Yaa-Zhing Advisory ServicesPwi-Di-Goo-Zing Ne-Yaa-Zhing Advisory ServicesPwi-Di-Goo-Zing Ne-Yaa-Zhing Advisory Services is a non-profit Regional Chiefs' Council located in the Rainy River District, Ontario, Canada, serving seven First Nations by providing advisory services and training which will enhance the overall management skills and opportunities of the area's...
- Shibogama First Nations CouncilShibogama First Nations CouncilShibogama First Nations Council , is a regional tribal council located in northwestern Ontario, Canada. Like many of the other regional councils, Shibogama is a member of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation...
- Southern First Nation Secretariat
- United Chiefs & Councils of Manitoulin Island
- Wabun Tribal CouncilWabun Tribal CouncilWabun Tribal Council is a non-profit Regional Chiefs' Council representing Ojibway and Cree First Nations in northern Ontario, Canada. The Council provides advisory services and program delivery to its seven Status and non-Status member-Nations.-Background:...
- Waabnoong Bemjiwang Association of First NationsWaabnoong Bemjiwang Association of First NationsThe Waabnoong Bemjiwang Association of First Nations is a tribal council of First Nations in the Georgian Bay region of Ontario, Canada. The council consists of the Dokis, Henvey Inlet, Magnetawan and Wasauksing First Nations in the Parry Sound District, the Wahnapitae First Nation near Sudbury and...
- Windigo First Nations CouncilWindigo First Nations CouncilWindigo First Nations Council is a non-political Chiefs Council in northwestern Ontario, Canada, serving its seven member-First Nations. The council was organized in 1983. The organization is directed by the Chiefs of the member First Nations who form the Board of Directors...
Quebec
- Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council
- Algonquin Nation Tribal Council
- Mamuitun Tribal Council
Saskatchewan
- Agency Chiefs Tribal Council
- Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations
- Battlefords Tribal Council
- File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council
- Fort Carlton Agency Council
- Meadow Lake Tribal Council
- Prince Albert Grand Council
- Saskatoon District Tribal Council
- Southeast Tribal Council
- Southeast Treaty#4 Tribal Council
- Touchwood Agency Chiefs
- Yorkton Tribal Council
- Barking Spider Swift Current Chiefs Council
Tribal Councils in the United States
- Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council
- Inter-tribal Council of Arizona
- Inter-tribal Council of Michigan
- Minnesota Indian Affairs CouncilMinnesota Indian Affairs CouncilThe Minnesota Indian Affairs Council was created by the Minnesota Legislature in 1963 to provide a liaison between the government of Minnesota and the Native American tribes in the state. The council also brings issues of concern to Indians living in urban areas to the attention of the state...
- Navajo Nation Council
- Siletz Tribal Council
- Williamsburg Tribal Council