Many people want to know how to gain membership in a Native American tribe because they have determined or believe they have a Native American ancestor. Some people find a name on an Indian scroll that appears to be the same name as a family member. However, just having a Native American ancestor does not provide any guarantee of membership. There are at least 29 Indian scrolls and each one of them was created for a specific purpose and use, regarding specific tribes. There are at least 564 federally recognized tribes listed in the Directory of Tribal Leaders published by the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The Five Civilized Tribes are the five Native American Nations: 1) Cherokee, 2) Chickasaw, 3) Choctaw, 4) Creek, and 5) Seminole. These tribes were considered civilized by Anglo-European settlers during the colonial and early federal periods. The Dawes Rolls contain the names of the individual members of the tribe of Indians of the Western Band of the Five Civilized Tribes.
Each tribe has various requirements for membership and listing on the appropriate Indian Registry for that tribe. Some are more restricted than others. The questions to ask yourself are: Do you have Native American lineage in your family? Can you prove lineage and if so are you Native American by “Blood Quantum”? Blood Quantum refers to an individual’s degree of ancestry from a specific racial or ethnic group, for example, 1/16 Eastern Band Cherokee. Different tribes have different Blood Quantum requirements to become a member of the tribe. Even a person who can prove lineage and may have the required Blood Quantum is not necessarily guaranteed membership. Some tribes have stopped accepting new applications. Probably the best known Indian Rolls are those from Dawes, Baker and Guion Miller.
The Dawes Rolls Index is the final Rolls of Citizens and Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes in the Indian Territory (Dawes) 1889-1914. The individuals on these lists are specific to the Western Band Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole Indians. These tribes originated from the Native Americans who were driven out of the East (1831-1838), also known as the “Trail of Tears”.
Baker Rolls 1924 were supposed to be the final roll for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The land would be partitioned and all members of the tribe would become regular citizens of the United States. The Eastern Band of Cherokee prevented the removal that occurred between 1831 and 1838 by hiding or disguising themselves as another race. The revised Baker Rolls is the current membership record for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina.
Script Miller Rolls 1909 is the story of the Cherokee Indians of all the Eastern Cherokee, not the former settlers, residing east or west of the Mississippi. The Rolls were ordered by the Court of Claims as a result of a lawsuit won by Eastern Cherokee for violations of certain treaties.
The Eastern Band website CherokeeRoots.com provides a search engine for a first and last name. It will provide basic information if a name appears to include the Indian scroll where the person is registered. This site charges for lineage research and for getting applications on file.
The US National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) provides information on federally recognized tribes (1930-1970). Most of the records are arranged by tribe. The site provides information on how to request applications from individuals on the lists. Search for “American Indians” on the archives.gov website.
The AccessGenealogy.com website provides explanations and information about index lists and a list of tribes.
The Oklahoma Historical Society provides a people search engine in the Dawes Rolls for the Five Civilized Tribes. Provide name, age, sex, blood, ID number, tribe, and license plate. http://www.okhistory.org/research/dawes.php
Another site, 500Nations.com, provides information on Native American tribes. Provides a map under “tribes” and lists tribes by state indicating state or federal status.
DNA tests are not sophisticated enough to prove Native American heritage. Federally recognized tribes do not enroll their members based on DNA evidence. Blood Quantum, if required, is determined by generation and proven/documented lineage. Federally recognized state tribes are more likely to require Blood Quantum than the Five Civilized Tribes.
Native American tribes are known to be a matriarchal society. The woman of the Native American lines would actually be the member of the family that continues the true blood lines. However, as stated above, Blood Quantum is generation based, regardless of gender.
The Seminole explain the clans within their tribe as follows: Clans are matrilineal in that they are inherited through the mother. For example, if an individual’s mother is from Clan Wotkvlke or Raccoon, and the father is from Clan Hvlpvtvlke or Alligator, that individual would be from Clan Raccoon. However, this person would also be related to the Cayman Clan, as a son or daughter. In turn, all other people of the Raccoon Clan and the Cayman Clan would be related to that person, and would be referred to as aunts and uncles, if the age of a clanmate were relative to that of the mother and father; or brother and sister, if the clan member’s age was relative to that of the child himself. For more information, go to sno-nsn.gov and select culture_history.
The Eastern Band Cherokee is a federally recognized tribe. Enrollment in the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is governed by the Cherokee Code, Chapter 49, Enrollment, and restricts enrollment to the following:
- A direct lineal ancestor must appear in the 1924 Baker Rolls of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
- Must possess at least 1/16 degree Eastern Cherokee blood. Please note: Blood Quantum is calculated from its ancestor listed in the 1924 Baker Rolls. No DNA/blood testing is performed or acceptable for this calculation.
- Must be newborn to three (3) years of age or between 18 and 19 years of age.
The Chickasaw, which is one of the Five Civilized Tribes, have different requirements: They provide CDIB (Certificate of Grade of Indian Blood), citizenship and information to Chickasaw who are direct descendants of those inscribed on the Dawes Commission Lists. An applicant must be able to trace his or her heritage through bloodlines to an original affiliate listed on the Dawes Commission Rolls, in order to obtain a CDIB. The required forms are available on the website below.
you need to provide
- State-issued birth certificate with state registrar’s signature and state file number
- death certificates
- Copies of court orders
- Recent color photographs of people over 12 years of age
Other information
The CDIB application is for applicants who want to prove their Chickasaw Indian blood. The application is a family tree chart that must be submitted with birth or death certificates, and supporting documents if necessary. It can be found at http://www.chickasaw.net/services/index_2288.htm
Once the application is received at the CDIB office, the investigation begins by searching for the ancestors inscribed on the Dawes Commission Lists, which are the base lists of the Five Civilized Tribes.
The CDIB does not establish citizenship with the Chickasaw Nation. Once applicants receive the CDIB, they are eligible for citizenship in the Chickasaw Nation. More information can be found on the main website chicasaw.net.