Cherokee Indian card question?

Question

My grandfather has a Cherokee Indian Card, as does his sister and brother. My question is, would his indian card be able to help me pay for college?

Answer 1

You might try this site--http://www.cherokee.org.

Address: P.O. Box 948 Tahlequah, OK 74465

Phone: [phone]

Email form--http://www.cherokee.org/ContactList.aspx

http://www.cherokee.org/PressRoom/2604/s... has this story "Cherokee Nation Provides Scholarship Opportunities", but it is valid only through Friday, June 13. However, if your grandfather's card would work, you might be able to apply for scholarships offered later. Probably the June 13 deadline is for the upcoming  fall semester.

Answer 2

Educational opportunities for American Indian students are typically reserved for enrolled tribal members of US federally recognized tribes.  Based on the information you provided, there are the following issues:

1) Is your grandfather's "Cherokee Indian Card" issued by a federally recognized Cherokee tribe?  There are only 3 federally recognized Cherokee tribes: Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, United Keetowah Band of Cherokee, and Eastern Band Cherokee.  If the card is issued by any other "Cherokee tribe" then it is invalid for educational opportunity purposes.

2) If you are not the enrolled tribal member, you would, most likely, not qualify for education opportunities reserved for American Indians.

Assuming your grandfather's card IS from one of the 3 federally recognized Cherokee tribes and you become enrolled yourself, you can be eligible for these opportunities.  It doesn't mean you're guaranteed funding, your tribal enrollment will open doors to funding opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable to you.

Answer 3

http://americanindian.net/cherokee.html

This site answers some questions regarding enrollment in the Cherokee tribe.  Certain benefits can be available to enrolled members.  Since it is your grandfather, you should have little problem documenting your lineage to him, and applying for membership for yourself.

Answer 4

It may.  All that says about you is that you may have Native American blood in you, specifically Cherokee.  I don't know if the government has any educational programs for things like that.  If they did, though, you may be limited by things like income and so forth.

I would check with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of Education to see if they have any programs for college geared specifically towards people of Native American descent.

Cheers!

Answer 5

The card that you reference might well be an identification card used by the Indians living on reservations that allowed certain government issued food and material.

I doubt that the cards would be instrumental in helping you pay for college tuition or admission.