How to Know If You're Cherokee Indian
Assimilation, both forced and by choice, has left many people who suspect they are descendants of Native American tribes like the Cherokee. The problem is most do not have definitive proof of their heritage. One way to know is to access legal documents such as birth, death, marriage and census records. Many of these records are readily available, making it possible to trace a family's history back through Cherokee history. The Cherokee Vital Records are primarily available in Oklahoma. In the event records cannot be found documenting a family's history, DNA testing is an option to prove a Cherokee heritage.
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Instructions
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Documents
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Request the Cherokee records from The Division of Vital Records, at the Oklahoma Department of Health, the Dawes Rolls, or the Guion Miller Roll.
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Search for ancestral vital records in Oklahoma by county, name, and date. Before 1947, all the birth records are filed under the father's name. After 1947, all births are recorded in the child's name.
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Provide the Bureau of Indian Affairs with the legal documentation that an ancestor was listed as part of the Cherokee Nation. The Bureau will then be able to provide a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) card.
DNA Testing
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Swab the inside of the cheek to collect mitochondria cells.
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Place the sample in a plastic bag and seal to avoid contamination.
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Place the sealed plastic bag in an envelope and return to any number of DNA banks across the country.
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Review the DNA results when the test is returned in a couple of weeks.
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