When speaking about Native Americans, what is the difference between an Indian tribe and an Indian Nation?
There is no distinct difference between an Indian tribe and an Indian nation. Before America was settled by Europeans, each tribe was self-governed and operated as a separate nation — with separate leadership, customs, laws, and lifestyles. From time to time, various tribes waged war against each other. It could be argued that “tribe” is an Anglo-American word, but Native Americans will refer to their people as a “nation.” You might hear a reference to the Cherokee Indian tribe but then notice on their official Web site the term, Cherokee Nation. It’s the same thing.
