Intertribal describes something that happens between different tribes or involves multiple tribes working together. When Native American tribes from different nations gather for an intertribal powwow, they're coming together to share dances, songs, and traditions. An intertribal council might bring together leaders from several tribes to discuss issues that affect all of them.

Throughout history, tribes have formed intertribal alliances for trade, defense, or shared ceremonies. The famous Iroquois Confederacy was an intertribal alliance of six Native American nations that worked together for hundreds of years.

The word can also describe conflicts: intertribal warfare happened when different tribes fought each other, usually over territory or resources rather than the organized conquests that European armies conducted.

Today, intertribal events and organizations help preserve Indigenous cultures and give different tribal communities ways to support each other. When you see this word, think about how different groups with their own identities and traditions find ways to connect, cooperate, or interact with one another.