To establish administrative procedures to extend Federal recognition to certain Indian groups.

[AI summary unavailable — showing source text] Authorizes any Indian group that is indigenous and ethnically and culturally identifiable to petition the Secretary of the Interior for recognition as an Indian tribe. Requires a petition to contain: (1) a statement of facts establishing that the petitioner has been identified as Indian or aboriginal and maintained tribal political influence over its members as an autonomous entity throughout history until the present (including the specific territory); (2) evidence that a substantial portion of the membership of the petitioner lives in a community viewed as Indian and distinct from other populations, is a descendant from an Indian group which historically inhabited a specific area, and is composed of persons who are not members of any other Indian tribe; (3) a copy of the present governing document or a statement describing membership criteria and the procedures governing affairs and members; and (4) a list of current and former members who have established descendancy from historic Indian groups which combined and functioned as a single autonomous entity. Directs the Assistant Secretary to: (1) send an acknowledgement of receipt to the petitioner; and (2) publish a notice of rece…