Alabama Indian Affairs Commission (AIAC) was created by a

legislative act Legislation is the process or result of enrolling, enacting, or promulgating laws by a legislature, parliament, or analogous governing body. Before an item of legislation becomes law it may be known as a bill, and may be broadly referred to a ...

in 1984 and represents more than 38,000 American Indian families who are residents of the U.S. state of Alabama. On the topic of why they exist, the AIAC said "Recognizing the unique cultural and sociological needs of Alabama's "invisible minority", the Legislature specifically charged AIAC to… "…deal fairly and effectively with Indian affairs; to bring local, state, federal resources into focus…for Indian citizens of the State of Alabama; to provide aid…assist Indian Communities…promote recognition of the right of Indians to pursue cultural and religious traditions…" Noting that charge for action, AIAC is placed in a liaison/advocacy role between the various departments of governments and the Indian people of our tribal communities. AIAC stands alone to represent the Indian people of Alabama who wish to stand together with their fellow citizens while maintaining their own cultural and ethnic heritage".

Tribes recognized

The commission recognizes the

Poarch Band of Creek Indians The Poarch Band of Creek Indians ( ;) are a federally recognized tribe of Native Americans with reservation lands in lower Alabama. As Mvskoke people, they speak the Muscogee language. They were formerly known as the Creek Nation East of the Mi ...

, the Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama, the

Cherokee Tribe of Northeast Alabama The Cherokee Tribe of Northeast Alabama (CTNEAL), formerly the Cherokees of Jackson County, is a state-recognized tribe in Alabama. They have about 3,000 members. The tribe has a representative on the Alabama Indian Affairs Commission and the I ...

, the Ma-Chis Lower Creek Indian Tribe of Alabama, the Star Clan of Muscogee Creeks, the Cher-O-Creek Intra Tribal Indians, the

MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians The MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians is a state-recognized tribe, located in southwest Alabama, with a population largely based in southern Washington County and some membership in northern Mobile County. The term ''MOWA'' is a portmanteau of Mob ...

, the Piqua Shawnee Tribe, and the United Cherokee Ani-Yun-Wiya Nation.

Programs and Scholarships

The AIAC provides many programs, such as Miss Indian Alabama, Native American Business Owner Profile, and the AIAC Scholarship.

Goal

The legislature specifically charged the AIAC to "deal fairly and effectively with Indian affairs; to bring local, state, federal resources into focus...for Indian citizens of the State of Alabama; to provide aid…assist Indian Communities...promote recognition of the right of Indians to pursue cultural and religious traditions..."

References

External links

* 1984 in American law 1984 establishments in Alabama Commission of Indian Affairs Native American history of Alabama Native American organizations {{NorthAm-native-stub