Tribal Nation Flag Protocol

I’ve received questions over the years that highlight just how uncomfortable many people are with this subject. Tribal flags, sovereignty, and precedence are often avoided—not because they are unclear, but because people don’t want to engage with the implications.

So let’s deal with it directly.

What You’re Seeing Matters

In the photo above, a tribal color guard is present, and in front of the team are bearers of Eagle Feather Staffs. These staffs are not decorative—they are culturally authoritative symbols and are treated with a level of respect comparable to national colors within tribal contexts.

The Eagle Feather Staff can be understood as functionally similar to historic military standards such as the Roman signa—serving as a central symbol of identity and authority. However, unlike formal military standards, its authority is cultural rather than institutional.

That matters when we talk about positioning and meaning.

The Core Question

Where does a tribal flag belong when displayed or carried with the US and a state flag?

Most people assume:

• U.S.
• Tribal
• State

That assumption is correct—but not for the reasons you may think.

Start With the Only Formal Standard

The controlling reference is the United States Flag Code. It establishes one non-negotiable principle: the US flag holds the position of honor when displayed within the United States. That means:

• It is to its own right (viewer’s left), or
• Centered and highest in grouped displays (never in a color guard)

There is no exception written for tribal lands.

Where Sovereignty Actually Applies

Federally recognized tribes are sovereign governments. That is not symbolic—it is legal reality. However: Sovereignty governs authority—not display precedence.

This is where some interpretations go off track.

• Tribal nations are not subordinate to states → correct
• Therefore tribal flags outrank state flags → functionally correct in display practice (in-ground display and for a color guard)
• Therefore tribal flags can outrank the U.S. flag → incorrect in protocol

Correct Order of Precedence

When displayed/carried together:

1. United States
2. Tribal Nation
3. State

This structure is both protocol-compliant and respectful of sovereignty

What Changes on Tribal Land?

Being on tribal land does not change the US flag’s position of honor. What it does allow:

• Elevation of the tribal flag above the state flag
• Equal height between U.S. and tribal flags (all flags may be flown or displayed at equal height with the US; that is required for all foreign national flags)
• Cultural integration (e.g., Eagle Feather Staffs)

What it does not support:

• Moving the U.S. flag out of the position of honor
• Placing the tribal flag in the superior position over the US

Why the “Overseas Analogy” Breaks Down

A common comparison is, “When we are overseas, the host nation flag takes precedence when we are on foreign soil.” That is not accurate. On U.S. installations abroad:

• The U.S. flag still occupies the position of honor within US formations on US soil (cemetery, military installation) and on foreign soil (off-installation)
• Host nation flags are given equal dignity, not precedence over the US

So this analogy cannot be used to justify reversing positions on tribal land.

There’s More

I had a great question from a Marine friend of mine. If you are a friend of mine of Facebook it’s possible that you saw the discussion since it was on my personal page, but I’d like to present it here with all the info I learned after doing some research.

Question 1: A Color Guard wants to march in and come to the center of the arena and while marking time, rotate 90 degrees counter-clockwise about the center of the flag line so that they are now facing the audience and halt… What is the command to rotate? I would assume that the color guard is in a “Forward March” mode to the center, “Mark Time” and then the rotation command is? And what movement would you recommend to exit the arena?

Answer: No need to call the Mark Time (you can call it if it’s easier for the team, but it is not an accepted technique). “Forward March” and the team marches to the rotation point. You explained the rotation well- on the center of the team (for better accuracy), however, the military standard is rotation on the guard position. The command is “Left Wheel/Turn, March” the team takes one more right step and then on the next left begins marking time while the line is rotated to the left. Same thing if the team needs to rotate to the right. It take about 8 steps to rotate 90-degrees and the American flag bearer (the commander of team- the one calling commands), around the 8th step, would then call “Colors Halt” on two left steps or, if the team needs to move forward in the new direction, he would call “Forward March” and then halt. “Present Arms” is next, and then back to Right Shoulder/Carry. If you need to rotate another 90-degrees to go back the way you came, the US flag bearer calls, “Left Wheel/Turn, March” and the team marks time while rotating. Again, around the 8th step, the command would be “Forward March” and the team steps off to head back. There are a couple of different ways to exit the arena and the easiest to explain would be to have the team halt before they enter the doorway or low clearance area, order arms and then fall out. If they can do all of that out of site of the audience- all the better.

Question 2: Thanks… Our team has been asked to present the colors each night of a three day rodeo. We’re planning for a 5 member team: United States, Salish-Kootenai Nation, Canada and two rifle bearers.

I know that I have seen it both ways and probably makes little difference, but with the rifle bearers at “Shoulder Arms” rifles to the outside or both at “Right Shoulder Arms”… Is there a preference or a reason behind having them on the outside?

Answer: Outside shoulder- standard for everyone except the Army. When calling Carry Colors, the left rifle guard executes Left Shoulder. Make sure the colors are in this order: US, Canada, and then Salish-Kootenai. The pivot point for the rotation can be the Salish-Kootenai flag bearer- he won’t move, just rotate in place while marking time.

Question 3: Okay, but that brings up another question… We are on a reservation, of which the Salish-Kootenai is the resident Native American Tribe. They are considered a Sovereign Nation. With that in mind, would they be considered closer to home more than Canada in terms of precedence or because outside of the US they would be ranked alphabetically?

Answer: Here is what I found from here: “Tribal flags and Eagle feather staff are given the same respect as the National flag. It is a fact that Tribal sovereignty and the ruling of the US Supreme court declares Indian reservations are NOT under state jurisdiction.” This does not help your situation completely, but gives us some insight. The flag order can be US, Salish-Kootenai, and Canada since the ceremony will be held on a reservation in the US.

Here is a page I found with a great listing of tribal colors and a book on all of the flags plus their histories.

Color Guard Formation

A standard 5-person formation should be:

• Right Rifle Guard
• U.S. Flag Bearer (position of honor)
• Tribal Flag Bearer
• State Flag Bearer
• Left Rifle Guard

This holds regardless of:

• Reservation vs non-reservation
• Ceremony type

Massed Color Guards Reminder

• National, state, territory, and recognized organizational colors belong in the first rank only
• Be deliberate about what is carried—authorization matters

Equipment Note

While equipment standards (staff type, finials, etc.) are important, avoid overgeneralizing across all teams. Not all veteran or ceremonial teams are bound to Army-specific guidon staff and finial standards.

Keep the principle instead:

Use standardized, regulation-compliant equipment appropriate to your governing authority.

What About Mixed National Displays?

When additional national flags are present (e.g., Canada):

• U.S. remains in position of honor
• Other national/sovereign flags follow
• Then state or subordinate flags

So:

1. U.S.
2. Canada
3. Tribal Nation (or Tribal before Canada depending on host context—but never above U.S.)

This is where situational nuance applies—but the U.S. position does not change.

The Real Issue

The confusion exists because:

• The United States Flag Code does not explicitly address tribal flags
• There is no unified federal guidance integrating tribal sovereignty into flag protocol

So people fill the gap with:

• Assumptions
• Analogies
• Personal interpretations

In-Ground Flagpoles: Height and Positioning on Tribal Land

A related question that comes up frequently is:

Can a tribal government install flagpoles where the United States and Tribal flags are the same height, and the state flag is lower?

The answer requires separating symbolic intent from protocol requirements.

What the Standard Actually Requires

Under the United States Flag Code:

• The U.S. flag must be:
  • In the position of honor, and
  • Not lower than any other flag

The Flag Code does not require equal pole height across all flags.
It also does not prohibit subordinate flags from being lower.

What This Means in Practice

On a multi-pole installation:

The U.S. flag may be:

• On a pole equal in height to another flag, or
• On a pole taller than the others

Other flags (tribal, state, organizational) may be:

• Equal in height, or
• Lower in height

As long as:

The U.S. flag is never physically lower than another flag.

Recommended Configurations

Option A – Equal Height (Most Recognized Standard)

• Three poles of equal height
• Left to right (observer view):
  1. United States
  2. Tribal Nation
  3. State

Universally understood
Clean alignment with established practice

Option B – Sovereignty Emphasis (Acceptable on Tribal Land)

• U.S. and Tribal poles at equal height
• State pole lower

Order remains:

• U.S. in position of honor (viewer’s left)
• Tribal next
• State lowest

Fully compliant with Flag Code
Reflects tribal sovereignty over state jurisdiction

What About Making the Tribal Pole Taller Than the U.S.?

This is where the line is clear:

The U.S. flag should not be placed on a shorter pole than another flag

Even on tribal trust land, doing so would:

• Place the U.S. flag in a subordinate visual position
• Conflict with established national display standards

Position Still Matters More Than Height

Even with differing pole heights:

• The position of honor (viewer’s left) still applies
• Height does not override positional precedence

Bottom Line for Installations

On tribal land, a government may:

• Fly the Tribal flag at equal height with the U.S.
• Place the State flag at a lower height
• Maintain the U.S. flag in the position of honor

This approach is:

• Protocol-compliant
• Respectful of sovereignty
• Defensible in both civilian and military contexts

The Bottom Line

• The U.S. flag retains the position of honor
• Tribal flags hold elevated status above state flags
• Equal height between U.S. and tribal flags is appropriate
• Sovereignty is respected without displacing national protocol

What Needs to Happen

It is long overdue for:

• Federal guidance
• State-level clarification
• Inclusion of tribal flag protocol in official doctrine

Until then, the most defensible approach is respect sovereignty—without violating established national display standards.

Final Thought

This subject doesn’t need to be controversial. It needs to be understood.

And once you separate:

• Authority (sovereignty)
  from
• Display protocol (precedence)

…the answer becomes clear.

Originally, I wrote two different articles in the 20-teens, merged them in 2022, and rewrote this in 2026 to reflect my ongoing flag, color guard, and protocol research.

Downloads

ICS DCS 12-400 Tribal Flags, Sovereignty, and Display Protocol in the United States

ICS DCS 12-401 Authority Classification in Flag Systems

DCS ICS 12-402 Position, Height, and Spatial Logic in Flag Displays