Chief Justice John Marshall United States Supreme Court said in Worcester v. Georgia, "Indian Nations have always been considered as distinct, independent political communities, retaining their original rights, as the undisputed possessors of the soil...The very term "nation" so generally applied to them, means "a people distinct from others." As of 2013, the United States recognized 566 American Indian tribal communities as being eligible for funding and services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) by virtue of their official status as Indian tribes. This book presents a current listing of those recognized Indian tribes (variously called tribes, nations, bands, pueblos, communities and native villages) divided by geographic region and including: Tribal Name Geographical Region Tribal Chief, Chairman, President Address Phone Fax Website The federal listing is followed by a list of Indian tribes or groups that are recognized by the states. This acknowledges their status within the state but does not guarantee funding from the state or the federal government. State-recognized Indian tribes are not federally recognized; however, federally recognized tribes may also be state-recognized. We have also provided information regarding tribal government and its role in Indian nations today as well as current criteria for recognition as a sovereign nation under BIA guidelines. A great educational tool for the classroom.