What are the ins and outs of filing for a Native American card?

Question

My granddad is full blooded Cherokee, but he doesn't have a card. Most of his children are very interested in his part of the family culture, some are heavily steeped in it. They would like to have a card. And because I live on the computer I've been shanghaied into helping them do research. Don't you just love that? How do you start the process and what do you need to do? And what information would you have to have?

Answer 1

Hi Lyssa,

You lucky gal!  I'm the "reference librarian" in my family, too!

You didn't say if he was born/raised in Oklahoma, but it would be best to get your granddad registered first.  That way, his descendants can register more easily once he has been officially registered.

I've put a link in the source box below, which contains the Cherokee Nation Registration Application, as well as the address where it needs to be sent.

I hope this helps - - good luck!

Answer 2

You'd need to look up the Cherokee, and if they are like others than look up your grandfather's specific tribe, and find out from there what your requirements would be.

I've heard from some people that the enrollment process can take quite a while though so be prepared for that.

Answer 3

Indian Ancestry - Cherokee Indian Ancestry

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

Indian Ancestry - Enrollment in a Federally Recognized Tribe

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

How Do I Trace Indian Ancestry?

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

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Answer 4

Benefits for Indians very from tribe to tribe and location to location.  Some benefits are health, land and college benefits.  After you get registered, you will be able to find out this information from your new tribe.  To get you there

http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/ce...

http://www.cyndislist.com/native.htm

http://www.native-american-online.org/tr...

Answer 5

The only way to gain membership into any Federally Recognized Tribe or Nation is to prove you have an ancestor on the Tribe or Nations base roll.  For the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma that would be the Dawes Roll, for the Eastern Band of Cherokee it would be the Baker Roll. The United Keetoowah Band also uses the Dawes Roll.  You must have your genealogy in order, the proof you need must be in the form or Birth, Death and Marriage Certificates.  If you can indeed trace your ancestry back to someone on the rolls then you have the first step.  For the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma there no longer is a blood quantum requirement, but for the Eastern Band of Cherokee you must have a blood quantum of at least 1/16 and the United Keetoowah Band requires at least 1/4 blood quantum.

All 3 of the Federally Recognized Cherokee Nations have websites:

http://www.cherokee.org  for the Oklahoma Nation

http://www.cherokee-nc.com  for the Eastern Band

http://www.unitedkeetoowahband.org  for the United Keetoowah Band

Sorry but without having an ancestor on the rolls there isn't any way to become a member of one of the Federally Recognized Tribes.