Recognition & Sovereignty

 Our Identity Is Not a Request — It Is a Right.  

For generations, Mixed-Blood Native Americans have lived in the shadows of federal and state recognition systems that exclude rather than include. The Sakochee Tribe was founded to change that. Our existence is not defined by colonial paperwork but by ancestry, community, tradition, and spirit.

Still, in a world where recognition defines access to healthcare, sovereignty, cultural funding, and legal respect—we fight for visibility.

In 2015, the Sakochee Tribe (then known as the Una Nation of Mixed-Bloods) became the subject of House Concurrent Resolution 16 (HCR 16) introduced to the Oregon State Legislature. The resolution called for state recognition of the Sakochee Tribe as a legitimate Indigenous community with historical and cultural continuity.

Despite support from local officials and allies—including the Mayors of Eugene and Springfield—HCR 16 was never passed out of committee.

This setback, however, did not silence us—it strengthened our resolve.

Since HCR 16, the Sakochee have continued to pursue recognition through:

• 📬 Direct Petitions to the U.S. Federal Government
  In 2025, the tribe formally submitted a request for federal recognition to the TrumpAdministration, outlining our membership, lineage records, tribal government, and cultural continuity. 
• 🤝 Alliances with Recognized Indigenous Nations
  We have established treaties and formal ties with: 
  • The Eastern Woodland Métis Nation of Nova Scotia
  • The Métis Nation of Canada
  • The Chiricahua Apache Mimbreno NDE Nation
  • The Georgia Tribe of Eastern Cherokee 
• 🗳️ Local Government Acknowledgment
  City governments in Oregon—including Eugene and Springfield—have recognized and supported the Sakochee Tribe as a legitimate Indigenous cultural and political body. 
• 📚 Public Education & Advocacy
  Through our website, social media, and outreach programs, we continue to raise awareness about Mixed-Blood erasure and the need for inclusive recognition policies.

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), adopted in 2007, is a landmark document that outlines global human rights standards for Indigenous peoples. It is not legally binding in all countries but serves as a moral and diplomatic guidepost.

• Article 3:
  “Indigenous peoples have the right to self-determination. They have the right to freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.” 
• Article 9:
  “Indigenous peoples and individuals have the right to belong to an indigenous community or nation... in accordance with the customs and traditions of the community or nation concerned.” 
• Article 33:
  “Indigenous peoples have the right to determine their own identity or membership in accordance with their customs and traditions.”
   

The Sakochee Tribe's existence and enrollment practices are directly aligned with the principles of UNDRIP. We assert our right to define ourselves, govern ourselves, and pass our identity to future generations—without interference or gatekeeping.

Recognition is not the goal—liberation is.

• Liberation from outdated blood quantum rules. 
• Liberation from federal silence. 
• Liberation from exclusionary politics. 
• Liberation through culture, community, and continuity.
   

We are not seeking charity—we are demanding acknowledgment of a truth that has always existed:

We are Indigenous. We are Mixed-Blood. We are Sakochee.

 “Recognition does not make us real. But it can make the world finally see what we’ve known all along.” — Chief Alexander Ziwahatan