The Atapaka Ishak Nation, officially named the Atakapa Ishak Tribe of Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana,
[ is a cultural heritage organization of individuals who identify as descendants of the Atakapa people.
The Atakapa Ishak Nation is an unrecognized organization. Despite using the word ''nation'' in its name, the group is neither a ]federally recognized tribe
This is a list of federally recognized tribes in the contiguous United States of America. There are also federally recognized Alaska Native tribes. , 574 Indian tribes were legally recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) of the United ...
nor a state-recognized tribe
State-recognized tribes in the United States are organizations that identify as Native American tribes or heritage groups that do not meet the criteria for federally recognized Indian tribes but have been recognized by a process established under ...
.[ but rejected the Atakapa Ishak Nation's application for state recognition.][
]
Organization
In 2008, the Atakapa Ishak Nation formed the Atakapa Ishak Tribe of Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of the 29 types of 50 ...
, based in Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles (French: ''Lac Charles'') is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, and the parish seat of Calcasieu Parish, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Founded in 1861 in Calcasieu ...
.
Petition for federal recognition
In 2007, the Atakapas Ishak Nation of Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana sent a letter of intent to petition for federal recognition. They have not followed up with a petition for federal recognition, however.
See also
* List of unrecognized tribes in the United States
Unrecognized tribes in the United States are organizations of people who claim to be historically, culturally, and/or genetically related to historic Native American Indian tribes but who are not officially recognized as Indigenous nations by the ...
* Cherokee heritage groups
Cherokee heritage groups are associations, societies and other organizations located primarily in the United States. Such groups consist of persons who do not qualify for enrollment in any of the three federally recognized Cherokee tribes (the Cher ...
References
External links
Atapaka Ishak Nation
{{DEFAULTSORT:Atakapa Ishak Nation
Cultural organizations based in Louisiana
Non-profit organizations based in Louisiana
2008 establishments in Louisiana
Unrecognized tribes in the United States