The assertion of tribal identities today is primarily driven by the emergence of a middle class within tribal society. This class, a product of modern education, occupations, and reservation policies, has created a new consciousness regarding culture, tradition, livelihood, and control over land and resources.

Tribal identities are also shaped by the forced incorporation into mainstream processes, which has generally been unfavourable to tribal communities. As a result, many tribal identities centre on resistance and opposition to the overwhelming force of the non-tribal world. Furthermore, heavy in-migration of non-tribals into tribal regions threatens to disrupt tribal communities and cultures, accelerating exploitation and fuelling identity assertions.