Cherokee Nation Offering Tribal Registration Help in Claremore

Native News Network Staff in Native Currents. Discussion »

February 22

TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - The Cherokee Nation is providing convenient, local assistance in Rogers County with applications for Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood cards and Cherokee Nation citizenship. Help with registration will be available on Wednesday, February 22, and Wednesday, March 28, from 10 am to 3 pm at the Claremore Indian Hospital. Registration staff will be on hand to assist with paperwork and answer questions about the citizenship process.

The main Cherokee Nation Registration Department office is located in the W.W. Keeler Complex south of Tahlequah, 17675 S. Muskogee Ave., and is open from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. There is no charge to apply for tribal citizenship.

In order to obtain a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood card, applicants must formally apply and provide acceptable legal documents that connect them to an ancestor who is listed with a roll number and a blood degree from the final rolls of citizens of the Cherokee Nation, commonly called the Dawes Final Rolls. These rolls were compiled between the years 1899-1906. Quantum of Indian blood is computed from the nearest paternal and/or maternal direct ancestor(s) of Indian blood listed on the Final Rolls.

Many descendants of Cherokee Indians can neither be certified nor qualify for tribal citizenship in the Cherokee Nation because their ancestors were not enrolled during the final enrollment. Unfortunately, these ancestors did not meet the requirements for the final enrollment. The requirements at that time were (1) applying between 1899-1906, (2) appearing on previous tribal rolls of 1880 or 1896 and (3) having a permanent residence within the Cherokee Nation (now the 14 northeastern counties of Oklahoma).

If the ancestors had separated from the Cherokee Nation and settled in states such as Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri or Texas during that period, they lost their citizenship with the Cherokee Nation. Only enrolled citizens of the Cherokee Nation named on the Final Rolls and/or their descendants are eligible for Certificates of Degree of Indian Blood and tribal citizenship.

The schedule is subject to change due to weather, holidays or emergency situations. For more information about Cherokee Nation registration services call 918-458-6980 or email registration@cherokee.org.

posted February 13, 2012 6:59 am est