State Committees and Commissions on Indian Affairs
Updated February 2013
The need for state forums on Indian affairs has increased in conjunction with the need for improved state-tribal relations. Traditionally, these forums have been under the direction of the executive branches in the states. More legislatures, however, are recognizing the benefits of having dedicated committees on Indian affairs or state-tribal relations. This compilation includes both legislative and executive branch committees and commissions, contact names and numbers. Please, email state-tribal-info@ncsl.org with any errors or omissions.
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State
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State Legislative Committees Dedicated to Indian Affairs
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State Executive Branch Indian Affairs Commissions or Contacts
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Statistics
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Tribes
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Pop.
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Alabama
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Alabama Indian Affairs Commission
771 S. Lawrence St., Suite 106
Montgomery, AL 36104
(334) 242-2831
(334) 240-3408 (FAX)
Robert R. Russell Jr., Executive Director
(Ala. Code 1975 s41-9-708 to 717)
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9
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22,430
22,019
|
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Alaska
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Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 110001
Juneau, AK 99811
(907) 465-3500
(907) 465-3532 (FAX)
|
226
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98,043
21,198
|
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Arizona
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Indian Nations and Tribes Legislative Day is a statutorily required annual meeting with legislators and tribal leaders. (Ariz. Rev. Stat. 41-1108)
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Arizona Commission on Indian Affairs
1700 W. Washington, Ste. 156
Phoenix, AZ 85007
(602) 542-4421
(602) 542-3712 (FAX)
The Commission submits an annual report to the Legislature and makes recommendations to governor & legislators on Indian issues. (Ariz. Rev. Stat. 41-541 to 543)
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21
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255,879
36,673
|
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Arkansas
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|
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0
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17,808
19,194
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California
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Assembly Select Committee on California Indian Nations
(Not currently active)
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Native American Heritage Comm.
915 Capitol Mall, Room 364
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 653-4082
(916) 657-5390 (FAX)
James Ramos, Chairman
Attorney General's Office
Office of Native American Affairs
P.O. Box 944255
Sacramento, CA 94244-2550
(916) 322-1818
Olin Jones, Director
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108
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333,346
294,216
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Colorado
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Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs
Office of Lieutenant Governor
130 State Capitol
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 866-3027
Ernest House, Jr., Executive Secretary
(Colo. Rev. Stat. 24-44-101 to 108)
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2
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44,241
35,448
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Connecticut
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Department of Environmental Protection
Connecticut Indian Affairs Council
79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106
(860) 424-3066
Ed Sarabia, Indian Affairs Coordinator
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6
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9,639
14,849
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Delaware
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Nanticoke Indian Assoc.
27073 John J. Williams Hwy.
Millsboro, DE 19966
(302) 945-3400
Larry Jackson, Chief
State of Delaware
Div. of Historical and Cultural Affairs
21 The Green
Dover, DE, 19901
(302) 736-7400
(302) 739-5660 (FAX)
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1
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2,731
3,338
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Florida
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Florida Governor's Council on Indian Affairs, Inc.
1341 Cross Creek Circle
Tallahassee, FL 32301
(850) 488-0730
(850) 488-5875 (FAX)
Joe A. Quetone, Executive Director
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2
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53,541
64,339
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Georgia
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Council on American Indian Concerns
2600 Highway 155, SW
Suite D
Stockbridge, GA 30281
(770) 389-7265
Mr. Nealie McCormick, Chairman
(Ga. Code 44-12-280 to 285)
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3
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21,737
31,460
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Hawaii
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House Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs
Senate Committee on Water, Land and Hawaiian Affairs
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Office of Hawaiian Affairs
711 Kapiolani Blvd. Suite 500
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 594-1835
(808) 594-1865 (FAX)
Clyde Namu'o, Chief Executive Officer
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0
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83,672 *
223,877
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Idaho
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Idaho Council on Indian Affairs
Monitors and reviews legislation and state policies that impact state/tribal relations; advises governor, legislature and state departments.
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Commission on Human Rights
P.O. Box 83720
1109 Main Street, Suite 450
Boise, ID 83720-0040
(208) 334-2873
(208) 334-2664 (FAX)
Pamela Parks, Director
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4
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17,645
9,592
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Illinois
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American Indian Center of Chicago
1630 W. Wilson Avenue
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 275-5871
(773) 275-5874 (FAX)
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0
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31,006
42,155
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Indiana
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Native American Indian Affairs Commission
10 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46204
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3
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15,815
23,448
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Iowa
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Iowa Commission on Native American Affairs
321 E. 12th Street, 2nd floor
Des Moines, IA 50319
(515) 242-6334
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1
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8,989
9,257
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Kansas
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Joint Committee on State-Tribal Relations
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Kansas Native American Affairs Office
Landon State Office Building
900 SW Jackson, Suite 101A
Topeka, Kansas 66612-20 785-296-1904 785-296-1795 Fa
Chris Howell, Executive Director
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4
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24,936
22,427
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Kentucky
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Kentucky Native American Heritage Commission
300 Washington Street
Frankfort, KY 40601
(502) 564-7005
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0
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8,616
15,936
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Louisiana
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Louisiana Governor's Office of Indian Affairs
150 N. Third Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
(225) 219-8715
Mark Ford, Director
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9
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25,477
17,401
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Maine
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The legislature has two Tribal representatives from the Penobscot Nation and the Passamaquoddy Tribe, who have seats on the floor of the House, sponsorship privilege and are each members of the State Government & Judiciary Committee. They have no voting privileges.
(per House Rule 525, Joint Rule 206 (3) )
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Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission
P.O. Box 241
Stillwater, ME 04489
(207) 394-2045
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4
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7,098
6,058
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Maryland
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Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs
301 W. Preston St., Suite 1500
Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 767-7631
E. Keith Colston, Executive Director
(Md. Ann. Code Art. 41 s. 15-301)
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0
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15,423
24,014
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Massachusetts
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Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 300
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 573-1291
(617) 573-1515 (FAX)
(Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 6A, s. 8A)
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2
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15,015
23,035
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Michigan
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Michigan Dept. of Human Services
P.O. Box 30037
235 S. Grand Avenue
Lansing, MI 48909
(517) 373-2035
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16
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58,479
65,933
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Minnesota
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Minnesota Indian Affairs Council
161 Saint Anthony Ave., Suite 919
St. Paul, MN 55103
(651) 296-0041
Annamarie Hill, Executive Director
(Minn. Stat. Ann. 3.922)
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8
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54,967
26,107
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Mississippi
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|
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1
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11,652
7,903
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Missouri
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|
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0
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25,076
35,023
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Montana
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State-Tribal Relations Interim Committee
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Montana Office of Indian Affairs
State Capitol Bldg., Room 202
Helena, MT 59620
(406) 444-3702
Jennifer Perez Cole, Director
State-Tribal Economic Development Commission, created 1999 per HB 670
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7
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56,068
10,252
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Nebraska
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State-Tribal Relations Committee |
Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs
6th Floor East, State Capitol
P.O. Box 94981
Lincoln, NE 68509-4981
(402) 471-3475
Judi gaiashkibos, Executive Director
(Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-2501 to 2508)
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6
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14,896
7,308
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Nevada
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Nevada Indian Commission
5366 Snyder Avenue
Carson City, NV 89701
(775) 687-8333
Sherry Rupert, Executive Director
(Nev. Rev. Stat. 233A.010 to .100)
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19
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26,420
15,802
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New Hampshire
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0
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2,964
4,921
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New Jersey
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New Jersey Commission on American Indian Affairs
125 W. State Street
Trenton, NJ 08608
(609) 341-2740
Autumn Wind Scott, Chair
(N.J. Stat. s. 52:15A-53)
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1
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19,492
29,612
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New Mexico
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Joint Indian Affairs Committee
(Meets periodically during the year when Legislature is not in session)
Senate Indian and Cultural Affairs Committee
(Meets regularly during legislative sessions)
Joint Legislative Committee on Compacts
(Created 1999 per SB 737, meets when required.)
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New Mexico Indian Affairs Department
Wendell Chino Building, 2nd Floor
1220 South St. Francis Drive
Santa Fe, NM 87505
(505) 476-1600
Arthur Allison, Cabinet Secretary
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23
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173,483
17,992
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New York
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New York State Office of Children & Family Services
Native American Services
295 Main Street, Room 545
Buffalo, NY 14203
(716) 847-3123
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9
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82,461
89,120
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North Carolina
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House Federal Relations and Indian Affairs Committee
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North Carolina Commission on Indian Affairs
116 W. Jones St.
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 807-4440
Gregory Richardson, Exec. Director
(N.C. Gen. Stat. 143B-404 to 411)
State Advisory Council on Indian Education
(N.C. Gen. Stat. 115C-210)
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6
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99,551
32,185
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North Dakota
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Tribal and State Relations Committee |
North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission
600 East Boulevard Avenue
First Floor-Room 117
Bismarck, ND 58505
(701) 328-2428
Scott Davis, Executive Director
(N.D. Cent. Code 54-36-01 to 07)
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4
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31,329
3,899
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Ohio
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|
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0
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24,486
51,589
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Oklahoma
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Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commission - dissolved in 2011
(Okla. Stat. Ann. 74-1201 to 1205)
Joint Committee on State-Tribal Relations (Okla. Stat. Ann. 74-1222)
Native American Cultural and Educational Authority (section 74-1226.2) "to promote the history and culture of American Indians for the benefit of the state of Oklahoma and its Indian and non-Indian citizens."
Gena Howard, Acting Executive Director
http://www.nacea.com/
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Oklahoma Secretary of State
2300 N. Lincoln Boulevard, Ste. 101
Oklahoma City, OK 73105-4897
(405) 521-3912
The Governor appointed the Secretary of State as the official liaison to the tribal nations located within the boudaries of Oklahoma.
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37
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273,230
118,719
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Oregon
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Legislative Commission on Indian Services
13 members appointed to two-year staggered terms. All nine federally recognized tribes are represented. Commission compiles information about services for Indians; develops and sponsors programs to outreach to Indians as well as other public and private agencies; supports agencies in expanding Indian services and assesses existing programs.
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Legislative Commission on Indian Services
900 Court St., NE, Room 167
Salem, OR 97301
(503) 986-1067
(503) 986-1071 (FAX)
Karen Quigley, Executive Director
(Or. Rev. Stat. 172.010 to .140)
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10
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45,211
40,456
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Pennsylvania
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|
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0
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18,348
34,302
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Rhode Island
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|
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1
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5,121
5,604
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South Carolina
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The Commission for Minority Affairs
6904 N. Main, Suite 107
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 333-9621
Janie Davis, Executive Director
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1
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13,718
13,738
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South Dakota
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Five members from the House and five members from the Senate, appointed biannually. Committee may present draft legislation and policy recommendations to the Legislative Research Council Executive Board.
State-Tribal Relations Interim Committee |
South Dakota Department of Tribal Relations
302 East Dakota
Pierre, SD 57501
(605) 773-5654
(www.sdtribalrelations.com)
Leroy "J.R." LaPlante, Secretary
(S.D. Stat. s. 1-4-1)
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9
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62,283
5,998
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Tennessee
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Tennessee Commission of Indian Affairs
ended operations as of June 30, 2010, the expiration of the legal authority for its existence (Tenn. Code Ann. 4-34-101 to 108)
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0
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15,152
24,036
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Texas
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Texas Indian Commission (Historical Reference) |
Office of Attorney General
P.O. Box 12548
Austin, TX 78711-2548
(512) 463-2100
(512) 476-2653 (FAX)
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3
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118,362
97,237
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Utah
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Native American Legislative Liaison Committee
11 members - seven from House and four from Senate. Committee serves as liaison between Utah tribes and the Legislature.
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Utah Division of Indian Affairs
300 S. Rio Grande Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
801-245-7208
801-521-4727 (FAX)
Shirlee Silversmith, Director
(Utah Code Ann. 1953 s9-9-109)
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7
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29,684
10,761
|
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Vermont
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Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs
109 State St.
Montpelier, VT 05609
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0
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2,420
3,976
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Virginia
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Virginia Council on Indians
P.O. Box 1475
Richmond, VA 23218
(804) 225-2084
13 members - eight from Virginia tribes officially recognized by the Commonwealth, two members at-large from Indian population in Virginia, one from House of Delegates, one from Senate, and one from Commonwealth at-large.
(Va. Code Ann. 9-138.1 to 138.4)
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8
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21,172
31,692
|
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Washington
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Community Development, Housing and Tribal Affairs Committee
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Governor's Office of Indian Affairs
210 11th Avenue, SW, #415
P.O. Box 40909
Olympia, WA 98504-0909
(360) 902-8827
Craig Bill, Director
|
29
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93,301
65,639
|
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West Virginia
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|
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0
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3,606
7,038
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Wisconsin
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Special Committee on State-Tribal Relations
Studies issues related to American Indians and the American Indian tribes and bands and develops specific recommendations and legislative proposals relating to these issues. Includes six-12 legislative and six-11 tribal members.
(Wisc. State. 13.83(3))
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Wisconsin State-Tribal Relations
Initiative
101 East Wilson Street, 9th Floor
Madison, WI 53708
(608) 267-1824
Brian Vigue, Administrator
|
11
|
47,228
22,158
|
|
Wyoming
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Select Committee on Tribal Relations
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Wyoming Indian Affairs Council
(Wyo. Stat. 9-2-1901 to 1905)
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2
|
11,133
3,879
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† Information on number of tribes in each state includes federally and state-recognized tribes. Population statistics for American Indian and Alaska Native population was obtained from 2000 U.S. Census data. The first number represents the number of people who chose American Indian or Alaska Native as their only race. The second number represents the number of people who chose American Indian or Alaska Native in combination with one or more other races.
*Hawaii's population numbers include Native Hawaiians, and American Indians and Alaska Natives. The second number only includes other Pacific Islanders.
State-Tribal Institute
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