How to Become a Member of Native Tribes
The United States is a melting pot of nationalities, and many families lay claim to Native American ancestry. While it is true that early settlers and pioneers often intermixed with native tribes, only those persons who can document their ancestry to a federally recognized Indian tribe may be eligible to enroll as a tribal member. In addition, each tribe is a sovereign nation and may limit membership based on blood quantum, or actual percentage of native ancestry, depending on the laws of the individual tribe. According to the National Congress of American Indians, there are 562 federally recognized tribes in the U.S. with membership rolls totaling approximately 1.7 million.
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Instructions
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Interview your parents and grandparents to determine which tribe your family descends from. Elder natives faced discrimination and assimilation, and your grandparents may be leery of discussing their Native American heritage. If they are not forthcoming with their knowledge, ask them where they and their parents lived because this will give you a hint of where to look for the information you seek.
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Research your native ancestry using census records and Indian rolls to verify your genealogy. Native Americans are required to show descent from a family member registered under one of the federal Indian rolls, which were taken under law by each Indian agency between 1885 and 1940.
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Document your descent from the native that was registered on the official roll. For example, if your great-grandmother was found on the Dawes Roll, you will need copies of birth, marriage, baptism or death certificates for your grandparent, parent and yourself proving the direct lineage from your great-grandmother.
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Contact the enrollment office of the tribe to which you wish to apply and request the official enrollment form and other information required for enrollment. Because each tribe is individually governed, the specific requirements for enrollment will vary.
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Apply for enrollment as directed by the tribal enrollment office by filling out your family tree form and including the required documentation as requested by the tribe. Once the requirements have been verified you will receive an enrollment card to prove your membership in your Native American tribe.
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Tips & Warnings
Native names on the rolls may be spelled phonetically; in addition, many natives used one or more names in addition to their tribal name. For example, a native in northern Michigan may have held his tribal name as well as an English or French translation; to add to the confusion, they may have been given a baptism name that differs from other given names.
A Native American Tribal Card is considered a valid piece of identity and may be used to apply for education grants and tribal health care and other benefits. Some tribes hold hunting and fishing rights on original tribal lands, in which case your tribal card may serve as a substitute for a state fishing or hunting license.
Many tribes restrict membership by blood quantum, which means you must be a minimum of a certain percentage native to qualify for membership. Blood quantum requirements vary by tribe and may be one-half, one-quarter, one-eighth or one-thirty-second percent Native American heritage.
Many scams offer to enroll natives in a specific tribe. Only federally recognized tribes are authorized to enroll new tribal members.
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