Assam is known as the settling ground for many civilizations. Numerous tribal groups have travelled to Assam through different routes as the land was connected to several states and countries. Negritos, Dravidians, Alpines, Tibeto Burmese and Aryans had been the major races that came and dwelled in ancient Assam. They were considered as the aborigines of Assam and even today they are an integral part of the Assamese diaspora.

The largest population in Assam is that of the Tibeto Burmese descent known as the Bodo tribe and Mishing tribe. Major tribes of Assam make out their livelihood through agriculture and by selling their handicrafts. Different types of tribes living in Assam are famous nationwide for their wide variety of handicrafts, handloom and pottery works. The languages of the Assamese tribes too differ according to their places of origin.

Bodo Tribes are one of the earliest tribes that had settled in Assam. They are, however, not restricted to any specific area of the state and are found in almost all parts of Assam. They practice cultivation, tea plantation and poultry farming. Rabha is a scheduled tribe of Assam, belonging to the Indo Mongoloid descent and has resemblance to the Bodo tribe. Karbi tribe, also known as Mikir, usually dwells in the hilly areas of Assam, especially in the North Cachar Hills, Nagaon and Sonitpur districts of the state.

On the other hand Mishing Tribe hails from Tibeto Burmese and inhabits the districts of Tinsukia, Sibsagar, Sonitpur, Jorhat and Golaghat, along the banks of River Brahmaputra. Dirugarh and Tinsukia district of Assam, along Dihing River are the settlement areas of Phake Tribes. The Dimasa Tribe lives in the Karbi Anglond District of Assam. The Lakher tribes of Assam consist of Hawthai, Zuchnanag, Tlongsai, Heima Sabeu and Lialia groups.

One can also find a concentration of the Deori tribal community in Assam only in the nearby regions of the Brahmaputra River. Khamti Tribes, Naga Tribes and Santhals are also some of the oldest tribal groups of Assam. Lalung tribal community is one of the important tribal communities that have resided in Assam. Besides these the Singpho tribes of the Tinsukia district of Assam also form an important Assamese tribal group.

The tribes of Assam are the colorful people who celebrate some of the most ethnic festivals like Bihu, Baishagu, Rongker, Ali-Ai-Ligang, Baikho and others.