Cherokee Nation Issues New Tribal ID Cards

Native News Network Staff in Native Briefs. Discussion »

TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA – The Cherokee Nation went to Arizona and New Mexico this weekend to issue citizens there the new Cherokee Nation tribal citizenship ID cards. Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona and Albuquerque, New Mexico are the latest cities the Cherokee Nation visited outside of Oklahoma.

The tribe began issuing the photo ID citizenship cards, similar in appearance to a driver's license, on October 1. So far, 3,767 cards have been issued in Oklahoma and 150 were issued in California last month. The Cherokee Nation is the largest tribe in the United States with more than 300,000 citizens, including nearly 20,000 in California, 4,400 in Arizona and 1,900 in New Mexico.

“Producing a government-issued, photo ID helps to instill a greater sense of pride in our people,”

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 visit to Albuquerque, Phoenix and Tucson this past weekend was part of the Cherokee Nation's effort to offer the same service to out of state Cherokee citizens. Chief Baker asked that mobile units be purchased and dispatched to communities in states with large Cherokee populations.

posted November 12, 2012 10:30 am edt