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25 USC § 5129 - Definitions 

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t25/s5129"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "25 USC § 5129 - Definitions"
title_number: 25
title_name: "INDIANS"
section_number: "5129"
section_name: "Definitions"
chapter_number: 45
chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF INDIANS AND CONSERVATION OF RESOURCES"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2025-07-14"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 18, 1934, ch. 576, § 19, 48 Stat. 988.)"
---

# § 5129. Definitions

June 1, 1934

The term “Indian” as used in this Act shall include all persons of Indian descent who are members of any recognized Indian tribe now under Federal jurisdiction, and all persons who are descendants of such members who were, on , residing within the present boundaries of any Indian reservation, and shall further include all other persons of one-half or more Indian blood. For the purposes of this Act, Eskimos and other aboriginal peoples of Alaska shall be considered Indians. The term “tribe” wherever used in this Act shall be construed to refer to any Indian tribe, organized band, pueblo, or the Indians residing on one reservation. The words “adult Indians” wherever used in this Act shall be construed to refer to Indians who have attained the age of twenty-one years.

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**Source Credit**: (June 18, 1934, ch. 576, § 19, 48 Stat. 988.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This Act, referred to in text, is , , popularly known as the Indian Reorganization Act, which is classified generally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under  and Tables.

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to  prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

## Executive Documents

### Admission of Alaska as State

Admission of Alaska into the Union was accomplished , on issuance of Proc. No. 3269, , 24 F.R. 81, 73 Stat. c16, as required by sections 1 and 8(c) of , , , set out as notes preceding , Territories and Insular Possessions.