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Bureau of Indian Affairs
CHEROKEE INDIAN ANCESTRY
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 moved west
to a territory that is now the State of Oklahoma. A number
remained in the southeast and gathered in North Carolina where
they purchased land and continued to live. Others went into the
Appalachian Mountains to escape being moved west and many of
their descendants may still live there now.
Today, individuals of Cherokee ancestry fall into the following
categories:
- (1) Living persons who were listed on the final rolls of
the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma (Dawes Commission
Rolls) that were approved and descendants of these
persons. 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 Five Civilized Tribes Agency and
their descendants who are eligible for enrollment with
the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indian of
Oklahoma.
- (4) All other persons of Cherokee Indian ancestry.
Category 1.
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 Cherokees formally organized in 1975 with the adoption of a
new Constitution which superseded the 1839 Cherokee Nation
Constitution. This new Constitution establishes a Cherokee
Register for the inclusion of any Cherokee for membership
purposes in the Cherokee Nation. Members must be citizens as
proven by reference to the Dawes Commission Rolls. Including in
this are the Delaware Cherokees of Article II of the Delaware
Agreement dated May 8, 1867, and the Shawnee Cherokees of Article
III of the Shawnee Agreement dated June 9, 1869, and/or their
descendants.
P.L. 100-472, authorizes through a planning and negotiation
process Indian Tribes to administer and manage programs,
activities, function, and services previously managed by the
Bureau of Indian Affairs. Pursuant to P.L. 100-472 the Cherokee
Nation has entered into a Self-governance Compact and now
provides those services previously provided by the BIA.
Enrollment and allotment records are now maintained by the
Cherokee Nation. Any question with regard to the Cherokee Nation
should be referred to the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, P.O. Box
948, Tahlequah, OK 74465 (918)456-0671 Fax (918)456-6485.
Category 2.
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina is a
federally recognized tribe and has its own requirements for
membership. Inquiries as to these requirements, or for
information shown in the records may be addressed to the BIA's
Cherokee Agency, Cherokee, North Carolina 28719, (704) 497-9131,
or the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, P.O. Box 455, Cherokee,
North Carolina 28719, (207) 497-2771, Fax (704)497-2952, ask for
the Tribal Enrollment Office.
Category 3.
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. In 1950, the UKB organized under a Constitution and Bylaws
approved by the Secretary of the Interior. Members of the UKB
consist of all persons whose names appear on the list of members
identified by a resolution dated April 19, 1949, and certified by
the Superintendent of the Five Civilized Tribes Agency on
November 26, 1949, with the governing body of the UKB having the
power to prescribe rules and regulations governing future
membership. The supreme governing body (UKB Council) consist of
9 members, elected to represent the nine districts of the old
Cherokee Nation and four officers, elected at large. Information
may be obtained by writing UKB, P.O. Box 746, Tahlequah Oklahoma,
74465-9432, (918) 456-5491 Fax (918) 456-9601.
Category 4.
Information about Indian ancestry of individuals in this category
of Cherokees is more difficult to locate. This is primarily
because the federal government has never maintained a list of all
the persons of Cherokee Indian descent, indicating their tribal
affiliation, degree of Indian blood or other data. In order to
establish Cherokee ancestry you should use the same methods
prescribed in "Indian Ancestry" and "Genealogical Research"
material. (Reference directories "INDIAN ANCESTRY" and
"GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH")
- Rev. 6/6/96
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This document cher_anc.html was last modified on
Friday, 27-Feb-98 07:31:33 EST.