Tracing American Indian and Alaska Native Ancestry (2024)

This page will help you understand the Tribal enrollment process, tribal services, and guide you to resources that can assist with tracing American Indian or Alaska Native ancestry and conducting genealogical research.

Enrollment In A Federally Recognized Tribe

There are multiple reasons to enroll in a federally recognized tribe. Tribal membership may convey the right to vote in tribal elections, to serve in tribal leadership, to participate in the sharing of tribal assets, to use tribal treaty rights (such as hunting, fishing, and gathering rights) within the tribe’s jurisdiction, to participate in cultural or religious matters, to receive tribal services and benefits, and to exercise other privileges or rights unique to tribal members. These tribal privileges and rights differ from tribe to tribe, as do their unique membership criteria.

Tribal Enrollment

Tribal enrollment is determined and set by individual Tribes, not the Bureau of Indian Affairs; therefore, uniform membership requirements across all Tribes do not exist as criterion varies from Tribe to Tribe. If interested in determining if you are eligible for membership in a federally recognized Tribe, you must typically be able to demonstrate the following to a Tribal Government:

  1. Identify which tribe (or tribes) your ancestor was a member of or affiliated with. You will work with that Tribal government to apply for Tribal Enrollment. The Tribal Leaders' Directory can assist with providing Tribal Government Contact information.
  2. Establish a lineal ancestor (biological parent, grandparent, great-grandparent and/or more distant ancestor) who is an American Indian or Alaska Native person from a federally recognized Tribe in the U.S.
  3. Provide documentation of your relationship to that person using vital statistics records and other records a tribe may require or accept for purposes of enrollment.

NEW OR REPLACEMENT CDIB FORMS

In order to obtain a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB), you must provide documentation to establish a lineal relationship to an ancestor listed with a degree of Indian blood as listed on official Tribal rolls.

Certificate Degree of Indian Blood (BDIB) Form

Tribal Leaders Directory

Tracing Cherokee Indian Ancestry

We receive so many requests for information on how to trace Cherokee Indian ancestry, therefore we have included this special section for it. About 200 years ago the Cherokee Indians were one tribe, or "Indian Nation," that lived in the southeast part of what is now the United States. During the 1830's and 1840's, the period covered by the Indian Removal Act, many Cherokees were forcibly moved west to what was then termed “Indian Territory” and that is now the state of Oklahoma. A number of Cherokees remained in the southeast and some gathered in North Carolina, where they purchased land and continue to live to this day. Today, individuals of Cherokee ancestry fall into at least one of the following categories:

  1. Living persons who were listed on the final rolls (Dawes Commission Rolls) of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, now known as the Cherokee Nation, that were approved and their descendants. These final rolls were closed in 1907.
  2. Individuals enrolled as members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina and their descendants who are eligible for enrollment with the Band.
  3. Persons on the list of members identified by a resolution dated April 19, 1949, and certified by the Superintendent of the BIA’s Five Civilized Tribes Agency, and their descendants who are eligible for enrollment with the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians of Oklahoma.
  4. All other persons of Cherokee Indian ancestry.

After about a half century of self-government, a law enacted in 1906 directed that final rolls be made and that each enrollee be given an allotment of land or paid cash in lieu of an allotment. The Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma, a federally recognized tribe, formally organized in 1975 with the adoption of a new constitution that superseded one from 1839. The new constitution established a Cherokee Register for the inclusion of any Cherokee person for membership purposes in the Cherokee Nation. Members must be citizens as proven by reference to the Dawes Commission Rolls, which outlined the membership of the Five Civilized Tribes in Oklahoma – the Cherokee Nation, the Chickasaw Nation, the Choctaw Nation, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and the Seminole Nation. These are the only federally recognized tribes who use the Dawes Rolls as their base membership rolls.

  • Any questions with regard to Cherokee Nation ancestry and/or enrollment should be referred to:

    Cherokee Nation
    PO Box 948
    Tahlequah, OK 74465
    Phone: (918) 456-0671
    Fax: (918) 458-5580
    www.cherokee.org

  • For the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina, inquiries about the tribe’s enrollment criteria or information shown in the records may be addressed to the tribe at:

    Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Qualla Boundary, P.O. Box 455
    Cherokee, NC 28719
    Phone: (828) 497-7000
    Fax: (828) 497-7007
    https://ebci.com/

  • By the Act of August 10, 1946 (60 Stat. 976), Congress recognized the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma (UKB) for the purposes of organizing under the Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act. Information about ancestry from this tribe and its enrollment requirements may be obtained by contacting:

    United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma
    P.O. Box 746
    Tahlequah, OK 74465
    Phone: (918) 431-1818
    Fax: (918) 431-1873
    http://www.keetoowahcherokee.org

  • Persons without affiliation to any of these tribes but still of Cherokee ancestry are best served looking through the Dawes Commission Rolls for their ancestor's listing.

Doing Genealogical Research

Start your genealogical research with yourself and your personal family history. Start with current and historical records that you have on hand such as letters, journal, diaries, etc., that belong to you and/or your immediate biological family. If you or a lineal ancestor is not currently a member of a federally recognized tribe, band or group in the U.S., your research can begin with public or other non-Indian records such as those kept by state and local governments, churches, schools, libraries, newspapers, and historical societies.

Where To Look For Ancestral Information

There are several places that you may be able to find information regarding you AI/AN Ancestry.

  1. At Home - The first place where you can begin to do your genealogical research is at home. Valuable information can be found in newspaper clippings, military service records, birth and death records, marriage licenses, divorce records, family bibles, personal journals, diaries, letters, scrapbooks, backs of pictures and other documents. Your relatives and family members may also be a great resource for you, check to see if they can share information with you, or answer any questions you have.
  2. Local and State Level - It is often helpful to check town, school, church, and county courthouse records for information. Historical and genealogical information also can be found in other civil records at local courthouses such as deeds, wills, land or other property conveyance documents. Additionally, local newspaper may have important information regarding an ancestor. To obtain a vital statistic record, you must contact the department, bureau or office that handles vital statistics records for the state where the event took place. Each state has its own rules for who may request a vital statistics record and its own process for requesting one (including any fees it may charge). State vital statistics records offices may be found using the internet.
  3. Public Libraries and Other Repositories - Visiting the local library is a very good starting point for gathering facts about AI/ANs and their tribes. A wealth of information exists concerning the history of tribes, tribal cultures, historical tribal territories, and tribal migration patterns. Most libraries also have books on how to do genealogical research to gain an understanding of basic research techniques.
  4. Federal Level (NARA) - The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the repository for all federal records. The records it holds and the information it provides are very useful to anyone interested in genealogical research. One example is census records, which are a very good source of information for persons trying to locate and identify their ancestors in the United States. In the 19th century, the BIA, which was established in 1824, carried out census counts of American Indians living on reservations. NARA has Federal census records from 1790 to 1940, including BIA American Indian census records. NARA also has military service records, passenger arrival records, and other records of value to persons involved in genealogical research including the Dawes Roll if you are researching ancestry from any of the Five Civilized Tribes in Oklahoma.
  5. Records Concerning AI/AN - If you have identified your ancestor’s tribal affiliation, now you can proceed to begin researching records about the tribe. The American Indian records collection at NARA includes special censuses, school records, and allotment records. For more information concerning the special censuses of various tribes, NARA offers: Microfilm Publication M1791, American Indian Censuses, “The Special Census of Indians, 1880”.
  6. BIA Offices - BIA regional offices (and agencies may be additional sources of information on an ancestor if:
  • your ancestor’s estate was probated through the bureau because he or she had land in trust with the bureau and/or received income derived from federal Indian trust lands and/or assets,
  • his or her name appears on a tribe’s base membership roll, a copy of which rests with the regional office or agency that services the tribe, or
  • his or her name appears on a judgment distribution roll developed as part of the settlement of a tribal claim against the United States.

The BIA, however, does not maintain current or historic records of all individuals who possess some degree of AI/AN blood. The BIA holds current rather than historic tribal membership enrollment lists, which do not hold the supporting documentation of the members listed. When you contact a BIA regional office or agency, be prepared to give the name of the tribe, the name(s) and birth date(s) of your lineal ancestor(s), and your relationship to such ancestor(s). The Tribal Leaders Directory includes contact information for all BIA regional offices and agencies.

Tribal Leaders Directory

What If I Was Adopted?

Generally, adoptions of AI/AN children have been handled in state courts under state laws. When you are seeking to open sealed adoption papers, the BIA cannot help you. You will need to obtain legal advice from an attorney that deals with this area of law. If you have questions about the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA), P.L. 95-608, which allows federally recognized tribes to intervene in certain AI/AN child adoption situations, you can contact a BIA regional social worker in any of the Bureau’s 12 regional offices or contact the National Indian Child Welfare Association for more information.

Could A Blood or DNA Test Prove AI/AN Ancestry?

Blood tests and DNA tests will not help an individual document his or her descent from a specific Federally recognized tribe or tribal community. The only value blood tests and DNA tests hold for persons trying to trace ancestry to a particular tribe is that testing, if the tribe accepts it, can establish if an individual is biologically related to a tribal member. Check directly with the tribe you are seeking to enroll to find out if it will accept a blood test or DNA test as part of its enrollment application process.

Getting Help With Research

If you are contemplating hiring someone to research your family history, professional genealogists can charge fees on an hourly or flat-rate basis. For more information on what to consider when hiring a professional, contact your local genealogical association or society, or visit the NARA website. If you do not wish to conduct your own research, researchers are available for a fee. Please search the Board for Certification of Genealogists or the Association of Professional Genealogists websites for their listings of genealogical researchers.

Additional Information

Additional Resources

  • Understanding Tribal Enrollment

Contact Us

Office of Public Affairs - Indian Affairs

1849 C Street, N.W. MS-4660-MIB
Washington, DC 20240

Open 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday.

202-208-3710

Tracing American Indian and Alaska Native Ancestry (2024)

FAQs

What could you do to trace American Indian or Alaskan native ancestry? ›

It is often helpful to check school, church (baptismal records), and county courthouse records for information. Historical and genealogical information also can be found in other civil records at local courthouses such as deeds, wills, land or other property conveyance documents.

Are you American Indian or Alaska Native? ›

According to OMB, “American Indian or Alaska Native” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America) and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.

What percentage of Native American do you have to be to be considered Indian? ›

The Bureau of Indian Affairs uses a blood quantum definition—generally one-fourth Native American blood—and/or tribal membership to recognize an individual as Native American. However, each tribe has its own set of requirements—generally including a blood quantum—for membership (enrollment) of individuals.

How much Indian blood do you need to qualify for benefits? ›

Some tribes, like the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, specify no blood quantum but require individuals to trace genealogical descent from a direct ancestor included on the Dawes Roll codified in 1907. The federal government maintains a 1/4 blood requirement for most of its benefits.

How do I trace my Native American tribe? ›

Five steps to find and verify an ancestor's tribe:
  1. Identify where the ancestor lived.
  2. Identify tribes in that area.
  3. Search for the ancestor in U.S. federal censuses.
  4. Search in state and county records.
  5. Verify tribe in American Indian records.
Mar 13, 2024

How can I trace my Native American? ›

www.ancestry.com Includes easy access to Indian Census Rolls and links to possible matches in its large collection of records. www.bia.gov/bia/ois/tgs/genealogy Publishes a downloadable Guide to Tracing Your Indian Ancestry. Has a vast online library, Tracing Native American Family Roots.

How do you tell if you have Native American ancestry? ›

The only value blood tests and DNA tests hold for persons trying to trace ancestry to a particular tribe is that testing, if the tribe accepts it, can establish if an individual is biologically related to a tribal member.

How many people identify as American Indian or Alaska Native? ›

An additional 5.9 million people identified as American Indian and Alaska Native and another race group. Together, the AI/AN alone or in combination population comprised 9.7 million people (2.9% of the total U.S. population) in 2020 .

Are Eskimos American Indians? ›

Abstract. A prevailing view in North American anthropology is that Eskimos are descendants of the most recent migrants from Siberia and are more closely related to Asiatic Mongoloids than to Indians.

Can a DNA test tell if you are Native American? ›

It is important to note that even if an individual in your family tree was considered to be Indigenous American, your own DNA may not reveal the Indigenous American ancestry because each parent only passes down a random half of their DNA each generation.

Why does my Ancestry DNA not show my Native American heritage? ›

This is because you may have inherited genetic markers that AncestryDNA does not use to identify Indigenous American ethnicity. Additionally, some Native American communities are underrepresented in genetics research.

Which DNA test is most accurate for Native American ancestry? ›

23andMe's Ancestry Composition feature accurately identifies Native American ancestry, breaking down your DNA to reveal if you have Native American roots.

What is the easiest Native American tribe to join? ›

The easiest Native American tribe to enroll in would be the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. They have a straightforward enrollment process and are known for their welcoming attitude. All you need to do is provide the necessary documentation and meet their requirements.

How can I find out how much Indian blood I have? ›

A DNA test can act as a very helpful tool when looking into your ancestry, in particular, if you have Native American ancestry, but there exist other ways of looking into your ancestral past too. For people researching the potential of a Native American past, you can: Look at available immigration or census records.

How much money does a Native American get a month? ›

What Is the Average Native American Salary by State
StateAnnual SalaryMonthly Pay
Illinois$118,036$9,836
Maryland$116,708$9,725
Louisiana$116,081$9,673
California$114,920$9,576
46 more rows

Where can Native Americans trace their ancestry to? ›

Genetic analysis of ancient teeth and bones suggests Native Americans largely descend from a vanished group called the Ancient Paleo-Siberians.

Where does Native American DNA trace back to? ›

A 2018 study analysed ancient Indigenous samples. The genetic evidence suggests that all Indigenous Americans ultimately descended from a founding population that combined East Asian and Ancient North Eurasian ancestry.

How to trace your ancestry? ›

Here are suggestions about ways to go about finding your ancestors.
  1. Start With Yourself. You are the beginning "twig" on your vast family tree. ...
  2. Look for Names, Dates, Places, and Relationships. ...
  3. Begin at Home. ...
  4. Relatives as Sources. ...
  5. Federal Records. ...
  6. State Records. ...
  7. County Records. ...
  8. Birth, Marriage, and Death Records.
Sep 29, 2021

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