American Indian Tribes hold a unique and sovereign place in the fabric of the United States, with rich histories, cultures, and traditions that have endured for centuries, shaping the nation’s identity, stewarding its lands, and governing the political and social lives of more than one million of its citizens.

Collectively, the 574 federally-recognized American Indian tribes and Alaska Native entities exercise sovereignty over 326 separate reservations with more than 50,000,000 acres of land in 26 states. Tribal governments and reservations are considered sovereign and have the authority to govern themselves, make and enforce laws, manage their lands and resources, and determine their own cultural, social, and economic futures.

For Economic Development Districts (EDDs) whose service areas overlap with or border Tribal lands, Native American Tribes are an important constituency and potential partner across a variety of domains. In many regions, Tribal enterprises (businesses owned and operated by Native American tribes) are critical economic engines, and Tribal members contribute to community life in the workforce, in schools, and in social settings. Moreover, Tribal cultural institutions and memory are often defining characteristics of a region’s character.

Despite this, EDDs sometimes struggle to build or maintain relationships with Tribal governments. There are a variety of challenges–cultural and operational divides, communication challenges, organizational capacity, a lack of institutionalized connections, and more.

This microsite provides a variety of resources for EDDs looking to build or expand their working relationships with Tribal governments and Tribal enterprises, including tips from EDDs who have been there before, case studies, webinar recordings, and more. These resources are designed to support stronger partnerships, deepen understanding, and foster meaningful collaboration between EDDs and Tribal governments to promote shared prosperity and resilience.

The following map illustrates the overlaps between EDDs and Tribal Reservations and trust lands across the United States. Click on your district or on a Tribal area to see its CEDS, if available, and other useful information.