What can your Tribal I.D. do for you

(1) Flying: Domestic YES – You can use Tribal ID
You can use Tribal ID cards (with a photo) for flying within the United States (now and after June 1).
Every TSA agent should know this rule, but many do not. One of the primary problems is that the book of IDs they use at the airport does not have Tribal IDs examples yet. We are trying to fix this problem. In the meantime, we recommend arriving early at the airport and asking for a TSA supervisor if the first person does not accept your Tribal ID.
Relevant TSA document for domestic flights

(2) Flying: International NO – You cannot use Tribal IDs
Currently passports are required for international flights (including Canada and Mexico). We do not anticipate a change in this rule anytime in the near future.
Some Tribes, such as the Haudenosaunee, have designed their own tribal passport, and are trying to get them formally accepted as international travel documents.
Currently Tribal ID cards are not sufficient for traveling by plane to Canada, Mexico, or anywhere internationally. A passport must be obtained.

(3) International Border Crossing YES – You can use Tribal ID
Currently, as with domestic flying, any Tribal ID card (with a photo) is acceptable for international land and water border crossing. However, this rule changes on June 1, 2009.
There is a new rule (WHTI-Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative) which requires Tribes to increase the security of their Tribal ID cards, and allow DHS to verify the ID holder’s identity. If a Tribe does not have this new type of ID after June 1, tribal members are not supposed to be able to use them to cross the border.
However, due to the high costs of upgrading Tribal IDs to DHS’s requirements, and some DHS delays, no Tribal ID will actually be in compliance by June 1. In fact, it is not anticipated that any Tribal ID card will be in compliance until at least December 2009 to June 2010.
DHS has said that they will be “flexible” in allowing Tribal IDs to be used for a “modest, but reasonable transition period.”