2BU.S. Department of the Interior 

3BGuide to 

Tracing Your 

American Indian 

Ancestry 

Office of Public Affairs - Indian Affairs 

1849 C Street, N.W., MS-3658-MIB 

Washington, D.C. 20240
2

Establishing Your American Indian Ancestry 

Some people want to become enrolled members of a federally recognized tribe. Others want to 

verify a family tradition (belief, fact or fiction, passed from generation to generation) that they 

descended from an American Indian, either in their distant or near past. While others might want 

just to learn more about the people they descend from and where they lived. 

 

When establishing descent from an American Indian tribe for membership and enrollment 

purposes, the individual must provide genealogical documentation. The documentation must 

prove that the individual lineally descends from an ancestor who was a member of the federally 

recognized tribe from which the individual claims descent. 

When people believe they may be of American Indian ancestry, they immediately write or 

telephone the nearest Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) office for information. That is not the best 

place to start. Many people think that the BIA retrieves genealogical information from a massive 

national Indian registry or comprehensive computer database. This is not true. Most BIA offices, 

particularly the central (headquarters, Washington, DC) and area (field) offices do not keep 

individual Indian records and the BIA does not maintain a national registry. The BIA does not 

conduct genealogical research for the public. 

Benefits and Services Provided to 

American Indian & Alaska Natives (AI/AN)

• The Myth of the Monthly Check

There has long been a myth that Indians receive a monthly check from the U.S. Government 

because of their status as Indians. There is no basis for this belief other than misinformation and 

misconception of the status of AI/ANs. Some tribes, tribal members and lineal descendants 

received payments from the Federal Government resulting from claims settlements. But there are 

very few judgment funds per capita payments that remain today. 

Some tribes distribute payments to enrolled members when revenues from the sale of tribal 

assets such as timber, hydroelectric power or oil and gas permit. Many tribes cannot make per 

capita payments because they do not have natural resources or other revenue from which they 

make a fund distribution. 

Some tribes have successful businesses that do defense contracting, operate casinos and 

information technology companies, sell spring water and make candy. If profits warrant it, and 

tribal members approve it. Funds from those operations can be paid out as monthly, yearly or 

occasional stipends to tribal members. 

There is a clear distinction between judgment funds and tribal funds. Judgment funds are 

appropriated by Congress after a claim that is filed by tribes or Indian descendant groups against 

the United States, is settled. Tribal funds are derived from tribal assets (refer to paragraphs 

above). An individual does not have to be an enrolled member of a tribe to receive a final 
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judgment fund payment. An individual must be an enrolled member of a tribe to be eligible to 

receive payments derived from tribal assets. 

• 0BServices for AI/ANs 

Indian Affairs, through its government-to-government relationship with federally recognized 

tribes, carries out the Federal Government’s unique and continuing relationship with, and 

responsibility to American Indian tribes and Indian people. Indian Affairs programs support and 

assist federally recognized tribes in the development of tribal governments, strong economies, 

and quality programs. The scope of Indian Affairs programs is extensive and includes a range of 

services comparable to the programs of state and local government, e.g., education, social 

services, law enforcement, courts, real estate services, agriculture and range management, and 

protection of natural resources. 

Many Federal agencies other than the Indian Affairs have special programs to serve the AI/AN 

population, i.e., the Indian Health Service (IHS), an adjunct of the Public Health Service, 

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The IHS provides health care services 

through a network of reservation-based hospitals and clinics. Besides standard medical care, the 

agency has established programs that specialize in maternal and child health, mental health, 

substance abuse, home health care, nutrition, etc. The Administration for Native Americans, 

another agency within DHHS, administers programs aimed at strengthening tribal governments 

and supporting the social and economic development of reservation communities. Other agencies 

of the Federal Government that serve the special needs of AI/AN people include the Departments 

of Housing and Urban Development, Justice, Agriculture, Education, Labor, Commerce and 

Energy. 

All AI/ANs, whether they live on or off reservations, are eligible (like all other citizens who 

meet eligibility requirements) to receive services provided by the state such as Temporary 

Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the Food Stamp 

Program and the Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). 

4BEnrollment in a Federally Recognized Tribe 

• What is the purpose of tribal enrollment?

Tribal enrollment requirements preserve the unique character and traditions of each tribe. The 

tribes establish membership criteria based on shared customs, traditions, language and tribal 

blood. 

• What are tribal membership requirements? 

Tribal enrollment criteria are set forth in tribal constitutions, articles of incorporation or 

ordinances. The criterion varies from tribe to tribe, so uniform membership requirements do not 

exist. 
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Two common requirements for membership are lineal descendency from someone named on the 

tribe's base roll or relationship to a tribal member who descended from someone named on the 

base roll. (A "base roll" is the original list of members as designated in a tribal constitution or 

other document specifying enrollment criteria.) Other conditions such as tribal blood quantum, 

tribal residency, or continued contact with the tribe are common. 

• How do I apply for enrollment in a tribe? 

After you have completed your genealogical research, documented your ancestry, and 

determined the tribe with which your ancestor was affiliated, you are ready to contact the tribe 

directly to obtain the criteria for membership. 

Rarely is the BIA involved in enrollment and membership. Each tribe determines whether an 

individual is eligible for membership. Each tribe maintains its own enrollment records and 

records about past members. To obtain information about your eligibility for membership, you 

must contact the tribe. 

• How do I Contact the Tribe I may have Indian Ancestry from? 

The Tribal Leaders Directory that is published by the BIA lists all of the federally recognized 

AI/AN tribes with their contact information. It also lists all the Regions, Agencies and Offices 

within Indian Affairs. Obtain one on-line at HUhttp://www.bia.gov/DocumentLibrary/index.htmUH or 

call Amanda Begay at 202-513-7602. 

1BDoing the Genealogical Research

DO I NEED TO USE A COMPUTER? 

Yes, it cannot be stressed more that the use of a computer is a valuable tool in your effort to do 

genealogical research. There are many organizations and individuals that have digitized their 

records, pictures and files and placed them on the World Wide Web. The ability to gather 

records, current addresses, phone numbers and other vital information that you will use, make it 

a necessary tool to use. Computers and the Internet can be accessed at your local public library 

or local community college, check in your area. 

Once on, there are many sites dedicated to the work of genealogical research, we do not 

recommend or endorse any of them. Also, be aware that these sites are usually private, for-profit 

and will charge you for their service. All the information they have collected is readily available 

for you to collect, if you know where to go and you are willing to do the work. 

You should be familiar with the use of a search engine to find web sites that are of interest to 

you. Search engines are computer programs that search the Internet for specific words, that you 

enter, listed in meta tags of the web site. Use words such as Native American genealogy or 

tracing American Indian Ancestry as search words. 
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HOW DO I BEGIN THE SEARCH FOR MY ANCESTORS? 

Start your genealogical research with yourself. Do not begin genealogical research in Indian 

records for this can most often be the wrong approach. Instead, begin research in current, rather 

than historic records. If an individual is not currently a member of a federally recognized tribe, 

band or group research should begin in non-Indian records or other public records such as those 

records maintained by state and local governments, churches, and schools. 

Individuals should find all the information they can about their parents, grandparents, and more 

distant ancestors and write such information down. The most important information is vital 

statistics, including ancestral names, dates of birth, marriages (or divorces) and death, the places 

where ancestors were born, lived, married, and died. During such research, the goal, especially 

for tribal membership purposes, is to establish and document the relationships of Indian 

ancestors and to identify the Indian tribe with which their ancestor may have been affiliated. 

WHERE DO I LOOK FOR INFORMATION? 

• UAT HOMEU 

The first place to begin genealogical research is at home. Valuable information can be found in 

family Bibles, newspaper clippings, military certificates, birth and death certificates, marriage 

licenses, diaries, letters, scrapbooks, backs of pictures and baby books. 

Relatives, particularly older ones, are another good source of information. Persons doing this 

research should visit or write family members who may have the genealogical information that 

they are seeking. Someone else in your family may also be working on a family history. 

• UON THE LOCAL AND STATE LEVELU 

It is often useful to check school, church, and county courthouse records for information. 

Researchers should not limit the scope of their search to birth, death and marriage records. 

Historical and genealogical information can be found in other civil records at the county 

courthouse such as deeds, wills, land or other property conveyances. 

Write to the Bureau of Vital Statistics, usually in the state capital to request copies of birth, death 

and marriage certificates, or divorce decrees. Include the name of the individual, date and place 

of birth and your relationship to that person. State governments did not keep birth and death 

records until the turn of the century, about 1890-1915, so searches in state records for ancestors 

who were born or died before that time may be limited. 

• U IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND OTHER REPOSITORIESU 

Visiting the local library is a good starting point for gathering facts about Indians and Indian 

tribes. A wealth of information exists concerning the history of Indian tribes, tribal cultures, the 

historic tribal territories, and the migration patterns. Most libraries also have books on how to do 
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genealogical research. The genealogical research books give a good understanding of standard 

research techniques. 

Researchers can also contact genealogical organizations, historical societies, and other private 

institutions. For example, the Family History Centers are "branch offices" of the Family History 

Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon). This private institution 

contains a large collection of genealogical documents relating to Indians that may be useful in 

research. 

• UON THE FEDERAL LEVELU 

Records Concerning Public 

The National Archives (Archives) in Washington, D.C. has records of genealogical value. The 

Federal government took the census every ten years since 1790 and is a very good source of 

information for individuals who are trying to identify their ancestors. Census records from 1790-

1920 are available on microfilm in the National Archives' regional branches. Seventeen branch 

offices are in major metropolitan areas throughout the country. A brochure describing the branch 

offices is available from: 

The Archives at: National Archives and Records Administration, Publication and 

Distribution Staff (NECD), Room G-3, Eighth St. and Pennsylvania Ave., NW 

Washington, D.C. 20408-0001. 

The National Archives also has military and service related records, passenger arrival records, 

and other records of value to persons involved in genealogical research. A copy of the free 

leaflet, Genealogical Records in the National Archives is available on request. 

The National Archives has various publications for sale. The Archives have microfilmed all 

censuses. Individuals can purchase copies of the microfilm rolls and associated genealogical 

materials. Various rolls of microfilm are available for rental at the National Archives. The 

telephone number for rental and sales requests is: 

1-800-234-8861 

The National Archives Internet address is HUwww.nara.govUH.

URecords Concerning American IndiansU 

At some point in the research, the researcher will have identified the tribal affiliation of one's 

ancestor(s). Now is the time to begin research in records about American Indians. The Native 

American collection at the National Archives includes special censuses, school records, and 

allotment records. For more information concerning the special censuses of various tribes, the 

National Archives offers: 
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 Microfilm Publication M1791 

American Indian Censuses 

The Special Census of Indians, 1880.

• UBIA Offices 

If your ancestors had land in trust or went through probate, the BIA field offices in selected areas 

throughout the United States may have some records concerning Indian ancestry. However, the 

BIA field offices do not maintain current or historic records of all individuals who possess some 

degree of Indian blood. The records the BIA holds are current rather than historic tribal 

membership enrollment lists. These lists (commonly called "rolls") do not have supporting 

documentation (such as birth certificates) for each tribal member listed. The BIA created these 

rolls while the BIA maintained tribal membership rolls. 

The BIA no longer has extensive involvement in tribal membership. 

Current Federal policy and case law limits the involvement of the BIA 

in tribal membership matters unless mandated by congressional 

legislation, or is required by the tribe's governing document or 

otherwise requested by the tribe. 

When you contact a BIA field office, be prepared to give the name of the tribe, the name(s) and 

birth dates of ancestor(s), and relationships. You must provide specific information otherwise 

field offices (and other institutions) probably cannot provide much useful information. 

The Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. §552(a) protects the current tribal membership rolls and lists that the 

BIA maintains. Submitting a request for genealogical information under the Freedom of 

Information Act, 5 U.S.C. §552, is not necessary for records compiled and published by private 

institutions or available in census records declassified by the National Archives. 

WHAT DO I DO IF I WAS ADOPTED? 

The Bureau of Indian Affairs cannot help you with your pursuit with opening sealed adoption 

papers. There are organizations that can be found on the Internet that can assist you with 

information on what procedures or information may be needed. The BIA does not endorse or 

recommend any of them. You will need to obtain legal advice from a lawyer that deals with this 

area of the law. 

IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO DO THE WORK YOURSELF 

If an individual does not wish to conduct their own research, researchers are available for a fee. 

Please write to the Board of Certification of Genealogists or the Association of Professional 

Genealogists and request their listings of genealogical researchers for hire. Their addresses are: 

Board of Certification of Genealogists 

P.O. Box 14291 

Washington, D.C. 20044

Association of Professional Genealogists 

P.O. Box 40393 

Denver, Colorado 80204
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Cherokee Indian Ancestry 

We have many requests on how to trace your Indian ancestry if it is Cherokee that we have 

provided a section for that purpose. The information on How to Locate the Dawes Rolls is 

useful to those trying to locate an ancestor that was from one of the five-civilized-tribes which is 

made up of Chickasaw, Choctaw, Seminole, Creek, and Cherokee Indians. 

• Brief Overview of Cherokee History 

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 HUCherokee Nation of 

OklahomaUH (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 HUEastern Band of Cherokee 

IndiansUH 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 HUUnited Keetoowah Band of 

Cherokee IndiansUH 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 Cherokees formally organized in 1975 with the adoption of a new Constitution that 

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 
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Indian Affairs. Pursuant to P.L. 100-472 the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma has entered into a 

Self-governance Compact and now provides those services previously provided by the BIA. 

Enrollment and allotment records are maintained by the Cherokee Nation. Any question with 

regard to the Cherokee Nation should be referred to: 

Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma 

P.O. Box 948 

Tahlequah, OK 74465 

Phone: (918) 456-0671; Fax: (918) 458-5580 

HUwww.cherokee.orgUH 

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 Cherokee Agency, 441 North, 257 Tsali 

Blvd., Cherokee, NC 28719, Phone: (828) 497-9131, Fax: (828) 497-6715, or to the tribe at: 

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians 

Qualla Boundary, P.O. Box 455 

Cherokee, NC 28719 

Phone: (828) 497-2771; Fax: (828) 497-7007 

ask for the Tribal Enrollment Office 

HUwww.cherokee-nc.comUH 

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) consists of nine members who 

represent the nine districts of the old Cherokee Nation and four officers who are elected at-large. 

Information may be obtained by writing: 

United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians 

P.O. Box 746 

Tahlequah, OK 74465 

Phone: (918) 431-1818; Fax: (918) 431-1873 

HUhttp://www.unitedkeetoowahband.orgUH 

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. 
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Locating the Dawes Rolls 

The Dawes Commission was organized in 1893 to accept applications for tribal enrollment 

between 1899 and 1907 from American Indians of the Five Civilized Tribes who resided in the 

Indian Territory, which later became the eastern portion of Oklahoma. The Five Civilized Tribes 

consist of the Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, Seminole, and Chickasaw Indians. 

There are several places to get access to the Dawes rolls to see if your ancestor is listed, here are 

three locations. 

National Archives & Records Administration 

Southwest Region 

P.O. Box 6216 

Fort Worth, TX 76115 

Phone: 817-334-5621 

Email: HUarchives@ftworth.nara.gov

UHURL: HUwww.nara.govU

Oklahoma Historical Society 

Archives and Manuscripts Division 

2100 N. Lincoln Blvd. 

Oklahoma City, OK 73105 

Phone: 405-521-2491 

Tulsa City-County Library 

400 Civic Center 

Tulsa, OK 74103 

Phone: 918-596-7977 

URL: HUwww.tulsalibrary.orgU

Collection: HUhttp://www.tulsalibrary.org/genealogy/amindianresearch.phpU