The Sakochee Tribe of Native American Descendants (pronounced: suh-koh-chee), based in Eugene, Oregon was founded in 2008. The Sakochee Tribe is a Native American Descendant tribal nation; the only one recognized in the United States (by three sitting Mayors).
History
Founded on November 2, 2008 the tribe was founded originally as The Nwambu People, and they have settled on the name The Sakochee Tribe of Native American Descendants. Previously, the tribe was known as The Una Nation of Mixed-Bloods.
Enrollment
To enroll with the Sakochee tribe, a person must be descended from a Native American. They must be able to prove their heritage, either via documents or a DNA test. Most members of the Sakochee do not qualify for enrollment with their ancestral tribes due to outdated and racist blood quantum laws. Currently, the tribe has enrollment in excess of 113,000, making them one of the largest tribes in the United States.
Government
The tribe is governed by a Council and a Chief. The Chief, which is a hereditary position, holds a permanent seat on the Council. The rest of the Council is elected.
Recognition
The tribal nation has been both internationally and domestically recognized. Firstly, recognized by three sitting Mayors :
- Christine Lundberg, Mayor of Springfield, Oregon;
- Kitty Piercy, former Mayor of Eugene, Oregon;
- Lucy Vinis, Mayor of Eugene, Oregon;
Further, the tribe has crossed the border with diplomacy and secured treaties with two Metis Nations in Canada and a tribe in the US:
- Eastern Woodland Metis Nation Nova Scotia
- Metis Nation of Canada
- Georgia Tribe of Eastern Cherokee
In 2015, a bill, HCR 16, was introduced to the Oregon House of Representatives to recognized the tribe by the State of Oregon. However, the bill never passed committee. Nevertheless, the tribal nation continues to fight for recognition as a Native American Descendant tribal Nation. In 2024, the tribe officially asked President Biden for federal recognition. In 2025, Chief Ziwahatan officially petitioned President Donald Trump for an executive order recognizing the tribe.
Elizabeth Warren
In February 2019, the tribe granted Senator Elizabeth Warren tribal enrollment, given her DNA results.
Legal Precedent
The Sakochee Tribe, representing over 113,000 descendants of historically documented Native American lineages, seeks official recognition through legal precedent grounded in U.S. constitutional authority, federal Indian law, and international standards. While we do not currently possess federal recognition, our claim to sovereignty, cultural continuity, and political self-determination is supported by decades of precedent.
Under Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, Congress has the power to regulate commerce “with the Indian tribes,” establishing the political status of tribes as sovereign entities, not racial groups. This principle is central to decisions affirming the rights of Indigenous nations to exist, govern, and be recognized independently of state systems.
Furthermore, the Executive Branch, via Article II, holds the authority to recognize tribes through Executive Orders, proclamations, and administrative decisions — a power exercised throughout American history.
United States v. Sandoval (1913)
Confirmed that Congress and the Executive Branch possess the authority to recognize Indian tribes even if they are not previously acknowledged or fully assimilated. Recognition is a political—not racial—classification.
Morton v. Mancari (1974)
Established that Indian identity and benefits are not race-based, but tied to political affiliation with a sovereign tribe. This ruling protects tribes (including potential tribes like the Sakochee) from constitutional challenges related to equal protection.
Montoya v. United States (1901)
Defined a tribe as “a body of Indians of the same or similar race, united in a community under one leadership or government, and inhabiting a particular territory.”
The Sakochee meet this definition through:
- Shared mixed-blood Indigenous ancestry
- An established tribal government (Council + Hereditary Chief)
- A defined membership and enrollment system
- A 300-acre territorial base currently under development in Coburg, Oregon
Throughout history, the Executive Branch has recognized tribes outside of the BIA’s formal recognition process. Examples include:
- The Miccosukee Tribe of Florida, recognized by Executive Order in 1962
- The Tigua and Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, recognized by Congressional restoration following state actions
- Multiple tribes during the 19th century were recognized through treaties and Executive Orders without BIA involvement
The Sakochee Tribe respectfully requests similar executive action, following in these historical footsteps and their pursuit of recognition is fully aligned with international Indigenous rights standards, particularly those enshrined in the 2007 UNDRIP, which the U.S. supports:
- Article 3 – Indigenous peoples have the right to self-determination.
- Article 9 – Indigenous individuals have the right to belong to a community or nation.
- Article 33 – Indigenous peoples have the right to determine their own identity or membership in accordance with their customs and traditions.
The Sakochee adhere to these principles through transparent enrollment, hereditary leadership, and documented community lineage, fulfilling both domestic and international criteria for nationhood.
External Links
- www.Sakochee.org, official website
