IT might surprise many Oklahomans to know that the state doesn't have the greatest number of federally recognized Indian tribes. Or that there are no official state-recognized tribes here. Or that relations among the tribes and between Oklahoma tribes and government are relatively harmonious.

This isn't the case elsewhere.

One of the biggest success stories of the past quarter century in Oklahoma is the growth and empowerment of the state's 39 federally recognized tribes. While the state has a high number of such tribes, it doesn't hold a patch to Alaska, with more than 150, or California.

Fourteen states, not including Oklahoma, offer state recognition of tribes that differs from federal recognition. In Connecticut, the Eastern Pequots (Pee-kwots) is a state-recognized tribe that fought for 24 years to gain federal recognition. It got the honor in 2002 but then lost in 2005.