Indian country
Indian country is a legal phrase referring to the physical Native American land areas under the U.S. government’s jurisdiction. Indian country includes reservations; restricted fee lands, or privately owned land by Native tribes or individuals; trust lands, or land in which the U.S. government has interest in for the benefit of an indigenous tribe or individual; dependent Native communities; and other Native land areas that exist outside of the formal boundaries of reservations. Indian country also includes the right of way, such as highways or pipelines that exist through reservations. This term is used in federal statutes, formally defined in 18 U.S.C. §1151, and court decisions. It impacts how state and federal governments address Native land. For example, territories labeled Indian country fall under federal jurisdiction and are eligible for certain grant programs. Whether land is identified as Indian territory or not determines government authority over crimes that occur within its limits, as well as inheritance or property rights. Indian country is different from the term “Indian Country,” with a capital “C.” The latter is a generalized, symbolic term to describe the places and spaces Native people live/exist within the U.S. including the many tribal nations within U.S. territories.
[Last reviewed in August of 2026 by the Wex Definitions Team]
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