The Tiguas of El Paso, Texas; the Coushattas of Louisiana; and the Tortugas of Las Cruces, New Mexico share a common background in that they represent American Indian tribes who, having lost their land base, have been abandoned by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and have experienced recent circumstances of poverty. Since Indian rights stem from their original ownership of land, the BIA generally takes the position that it will not assume responsibility for an Indian group without a land base. However, Title 25 of the U.S. Code (Section 334) states that equal treatment should be afforded all Indians regardless of place of residence. Due to recent efforts on the part of the Tiguas, the Texas State Legislature has assumed full legal responsibility for these El Paso Indians. While the Coushattas and the Tortugas have not been as successful, the Tiguas have provided a precedent and a blueprint for recognition of tribes without a land base. Recognition is a relationship between a unit of government (State or Federal) and a tribe, wherein the government provides services for the tribe which are not provided for the general public. A suggested blueprint for recognition involves procurement of: (1) an anthropologist to document tribal history; (2) an attorney to accept responsibility for coordinating the effort; and (3) an effective public relations man. (JC)