I'm American Indian but...?

Question

How do I get in touch with the Bureau of Indian Affairs? As well how much Indian must I be to be issue a certificate of my ancestry?

Answer 1

I remember your avatar  I remember you saying that you are black , native american , and other ethnicity's. NOw  ,  I mean I think you have to have  at least 10 percent . However , that does not make you Native American . YOUR TITLE DOES NOT MATCH WITH YOU QUESTION:) . How can you be native american but ask how much  indian must you have  to be  be issue a certificate of you ancestry.

Second , I did not know you can do that in that case , ( i don't want to ) but my great  great grandfather was Native american , on mother side ,and great grand mother of father side.  

Answer 2

Since you state you are Cherokee and Powhatan, YOU need to contact the Cherokee tribe and Powhatan tribe from which you descend.  There are only 3 federally recognized Cherokee tribes and 0 federally recognized Powhatan tribes.  However, there are state recognized Cherokee and Powhatan tribes.  Be weary of groups that call themselves 'tribes' but are really non-profit organizations.  Once you've contacted the tribe(s) from which you descend, give them the names of your ancestors to verify that their names appear on the rolls.  Assuming that their names do appear and that you are their descendant, your blood quantum can be determined. (1/6 and 1/3 are not valid blood quantums unless you have 3 parents.)  The BIA does not keep track of individuals so contacting them would be fruitless.  The BIA does not deal with non-federally recognized entities so unless you're linked to a federally recognized tribe the BIA will do nothing for you. Yes, anyone can self-identify as anything they'd like, however, American Indian aka Native American is a legal term reserved for enrolled members/citizens of federally recognized tribes.

Answer 3

Indian Ancestry - Enrollment in a Federally Recognized Tribe http://www.doi.gov/enrollment.html

Indian Ancestry - Cherokee Indian Ancestry

http://www.doi.gov/cheeroke.html

Enrollment Procedures and Recourse

http://thorpe.ou.edu/OILS/enroll.html

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