The Delaware Tribe of Oklahoma is official again.

After losing its federal status, the tribe voted to reorganize under the Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act. The Bureau of Indian Affairs approved the tribe's election on July 28.

"The election has the effect of restoring a direct Federal relationship with the Tribe consistent with the Memorandum of Agreement entered into with the Cherokee Nation on October 24, 2008," the BIA said. "The Delaware Tribe of Indians will now be included in the next list of recognized tribal entities published in the Federal Register."

The Delawares have been considered a part of the Cherokee Nation since an 1866 treaty. But when the BIA treated the Delawares as a separate entity, the Cherokee Nation went to court and won a decision that removed the Delawares from the list of federally recognized tribes.

The two tribes resolved their differences through the October 2008 agreement. Delaware voters approved the agreement and voted to reorganize in May.

Relevant Documents:
Delaware Tribe Recognition (July 28, 2009)

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Delaware Tribe about to regain federal status (07/14)
Delaware Tribe awaits answer on recognition (06/25)
Delaware Tribe gets closer to federal recognition (6/9)
Delaware Tribe seeks to restore federal recognition (4/13)