The Tribal Recognition Program was created by the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs to assist the Commission and the Recognition Committee in reviewing completed petitions for State Recognition and to provide technical assistance to petitioning groups. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143B-406 (1977). Click to view the North Carolina legislation that created the N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs. 

Click to view North Carolina’s Tribal Recognition Procedures.

Below are technical assistance documents that have been developed by the Recognition Committee of the Commission of Indian Affairs. This material is intended to help a petitioning group prepare a fully documented petition. 

• Sample Guide A - Documented Petition Description with a Suggested Outline for Concise Written Narrative
• Sample Guide B - Guided Assistance for Petition Documentation
• Sample Guide C - List of Primary Sources vs. Secondary Sources for Genealogical Documents
• Sample Guide D - Genealogical Methodology Guide
• Sample Guide E - Sources for Genealogical Assistance
• Sample Form F - Ancestry Chart
• Sample Form G - Individual History Chart
• Sample Form H - Current Membership Roll Chart
• Sample Letter I - Notice of Intent to Petition for State Recognition
• Sample Letter J - Change of Address and Contact Information
• Sample Letter K - Change of Leadership and Contact Information
• Sample Letter L - Change of Group Name and Contact Information

For technical assistance regarding the Tribal Recognition Program, please contact:

• Elk Richardson, Tribal Recognition Program Director, at 984-236-0169 or elkton.richardson@doa.nc.gov