Federally recognized Indian tribes possess certain inherent rights of self-government and entitlement to certain federal benefits, services, and protections because of the special trust relationship.

“Recognition” is a legal term meaning that the United States recognizes a government-to-government relationship with a tribe and that a tribe exists politically in a “domestic dependent nation status.” A federally recognized tribe is one that was in existence, or evolved as a successor to a tribe, at the time of original contact with non-Indians.

Tribes have the inherent right to operate under their own governmental systems. Many have adopted constitutions, while others operate under articles of association or other bodies of law, and some still have traditional systems of government. The chief executive of a tribe is generally called the tribal chairperson, but may also be called principal chief, governor, or president. The chief executive usually presides over what is typically called the tribal council. The tribal council performs the legislative function for the tribe, although some tribes require a referendum of the membership to enact laws.

Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of American Indian Trust

Minnesota Indian Reservations

Minnesota’s Federally Recognized Indian Tribes

Bois Forte Band of Chippewa
Box 16, 5344 Lakeshore Dr., Nett Lake 55772, (800)221-8129
Web site: www.boisforte.com/
Tribal chair: Kevin Leecy

Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
1720 Big Lake Rd., Cloquet 55720, (218)879-4593
Web site: www.fdlrez.com/
Tribal chair: Karen R. Diver

Grand Portage Band of Chippewa
Box 428, Grand Portage 55604, (218)475-2277
Web site: www.grandportage.com
Tribal chair: Norman Deschampe

Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
115 N.W. 6th St., Suite E, Cass Lake 56633, (218)335-8200
Web site: www.llojibwe.com
Tribal chair: George Goggleye

Lower Sioux Community
Box 308, 39375 Cty. Hwy. 24, Morton 56270, (507)697-6185
Web site: www.lowersioux.com
Tribal president: Shannon Blue

Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
Government Center, 43408 Oodena Dr., Onamia 56359, (320)532-4181
Web site: www.millelacsojibwe.org/
Tribal chair: Melanie Benjamin

Prairie Island Indian Community               
5636 Sturgeon Lake Rd., Welch 55089, (800)554-5473
Web site: www.prairieisland.org/
Tribal president: Audrey Bennett

Red Lake Band of Ojibwe
Box 550, Red Lake 56671, Phone: (218)679-3341
Web site: www.redlakenation.org/
Tribal chair: Floyd (Buck) Jourdain

Shakopee-Mdewakanton Sioux (Dakota) Community
2330 Sioux Tr. N.W., Prior Lake 55372, (952)445-8900
Web site: www.shakopeedakota.org
Tribal chair: Stanley Crooks

Upper Sioux Community Pejuhutazizi Oyate
Box 147, 5738 Hwy. 67 E., Granite Falls 56241, (320)564-2360
Web site: www.uppersiouxcommunity-nsn.gov/
Tribal chair: Kevin Jensvold

White Earth Band of Ojibwe
Box 418, White Earth 56591, (218)983-3285
Web site: www.whiteearth.com
Tribal chair: Erma Vizenor