The Mission of USET

United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc. is dedicated to enhancing the development of Indian Tribes, to improving the capabilities of Tribal governments, and assisting the member Tribes and their governments in dealing effectively with public policy issues and in serving the broad needs of Indian people.

Statement of Unity

We, the Eastern Band of Cherokee, Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana, Mississippi Band of Choctaw, Cayuga Nation, Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, Miccosukee Tribe of Florida, Saint Regis Band of Mohawk, Passamaquoddy Pleasant Point, Passamaquoddy Indian Township, Penobscot Nation, Seminole Tribe of Florida, Seneca Nation of New York, Houlton Band of Maliseet, Poarch Band of Creek, Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, Narragansett Indian Tribe, Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head, (Aquinnah), Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, Oneida Nation of New York, Aroostook Band of Micmac of Maine, Catawba Indian Nation of South Carolina, Jena Band of Choctaw Indians of Louisiana, and the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut, being numbered among the Nations People of the South and Eastern United States, desiring to establish an organization to represent our united interest and promote our common welfare and benefit, do of our own free will in Council assembly, affirm our membership in the organization to be known as United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc., and proclaim the following objectives and declare our purpose to be:

a. To promote Indian leadership in order to move forward in the ultimate, desirable goal of complete Indian involvement and responsibility at all levels in Indian affairs;

b. To lift the bitter yoke of poverty from our people through cooperative effort;

c. To promote better understanding of the issues involving Indian Tribes and other people;

d. To advocate for more effective use of existing local, state, federal, and international resources;

e. To promote a forum for exchange of ideas;

f. To combine our voices so we can be heard clearly by local, state, federal, and international governments;

g. To dedicate ourselves to improvement of the quality of life for American Indians through increased health, education, social services and housing opportunities;

h. To reaffirm the commitments of our Tribes to the treaties and agreements heretofore entered into with the Federal Government in a government-to-government relationship and to promote the reciprocity of this relationship and those agreements and treaties; and

i. To provide protection of tribal natural resources.

"Because there is strength in unity"