Requests for Administrative Acknowledgment of Federal Indian Tribes

This policy guidance establishes the Department's intent to make determinations to acknowledge Federal Indian tribes within the contiguous 48 states only in accordance with the regulations established for that purpose at 25 CFR part 83. This notice directs any unrecognized group requesting that the Department acknowledge it as an Indian tribe, through reaffirmation or any other alternative basis, to petition under 25 CFR part 83 unless an alternate process is established by rulemaking following the effective date of this policy guidance.