Arizona & California Cherokee Citizens to Get New Citizenship Photo ID

Native News Network Staff in Native Currents. Discussion »

TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA – Cherokee Nation citizens in California and Arizona are next to receive the tribe's new photo ID citizenship cards, starting this weekend. The mobile registration group has visited California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Kansas and Missouri since October.

Citizenship Photo ID

Next stops are Oakland, California, Sacramento, California and Phoenix, Arizona.

“Producing a government-issued, photo ID helps to instill a greater sense of pride in our people, and we're happy to bring this service to our Cherokees living outside of Oklahoma,”

said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker.

“I've presented my photo tribal citizenship card at several major airports, and even to the US Secret Service, and experienced no problems whatsoever.”

The tribe began issuing the photo ID citizenship cards, similar in appearance to a driver's license, on October 1. So far, nearly 7,323 cards have been issued to citizens both in and outside of Oklahoma. The Cherokee Nation is the largest tribe in the US with more than 315,000 citizens, including 19,843 in California and 4,384 in Arizona.

The new citizenship photo ID cards are being issued in conjunction with a meeting of Oakland, California; Sacramento, California; and Phoenix, Arizona area Cherokee citizens. The groups will meet at the following times and locations:

January 5
Intertribal Friendship House
523 International Boulevard
Oakland, California 94606
10 am to 5 pm - Cherokee Nation photo IDs
Noon to 3 pm - General meeting

January 6
Maidu Activities Center
1960 Johnson Ranch Drive
Roseville, California 95661
10 am to 5 pm - Cherokee Nation photo IDs
Noon to 3 pm - General meeting

January 12
Phoenix Indian Medical Center, First Floor, Conference Rooms A & B
4212 N. 16th Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85016
11 am to 2 pm

More than a year of planning and design was required to transform the tribal citizenship cards, also known as "blue cards," into photo IDs. The tribe consulted with members of the Five Civilized Tribes and gathered input from other tribes that had upgraded to photo ID cards. The upgraded citizenship cards feature a citizen's Cherokee Nation registration number, official registrar signature, the citizen's photo and signature, Principal Chief's signature and a distinctive Cherokee Nation hologram seal for validation. Citizens may also opt for their official Bureau of Indian Affairs Certificate Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) on the back of the card.

Children 12 and younger can get a new photo ID but must have a parent or legal guardian present to sign the card. Upgrading to a photo ID is free. At-large citizens should bring a valid ID and previously issued citizenship or CDIB card, if available.

For more information contact the Cherokee Nation registration department at 918.458.6980 or registration@cherokee.org

posted December 31, 2012 6:30 am est