Each tribe was given land in what was then known as Indian Territory. Rolls were taken from the time of arrival in Oklahoma. Some pre-removal rolls exist. Rolls will vary by tribe and date. Information on each roll will also vary depending on the reason the roll was taken.
Some rolls are only lists of names.
Between 1898-1906, the Final Rolls of the Five Civilized Tribes were taken to determine individuals who qualified for membership in the tribes. This roll is what is used today to determine tribal enrollment. Staring with the Final Rolls , genealogist can locate ancestors who enrolled as members of one of the five tribes. To use the Final Rolls , determine the name of an ancestor who was living in Indian Territory between 1898-1906. It is helpful if you know the approximate age of the ancestor at that time.