When it comes to researching your Native American ancestry, you may come across a lot of information about enrolling in a tribe. The tribal enrollment process, while varied from tribe to tribe, is typically meant to preserve a tribe’s unique culture and traditions.
Related Info – What tribe am I from?
Enrolling in a tribe is a great way to learn more about your lineage. It is also an important way to help you prove Indian ancestry. Here are the most important things you need to know about the tribal enrollment process.
DNA Testing
A lot of people believe, due to oral histories told down through their family lines, that they have Native American heritage. However, a simple claim that you are related to an American Indian is not enough to prove that you are eligible for tribal enrollment.
The first step, therefore, is to undergo DNA testing. There are several companies you can do this through, including 23andMe and Ancestry.com. While DNA testing in itself is not enough to prove your tribal eligibility, it can help firmly establish a connection to a tribe. It will give you an idea of whether or not it is worth it for you to seek legal tribal enrollment in the first place.
Read our article – What you need to know about DNA testing!
Eligibility Requirements
Each individual tribe, since it is a sovereign nation, establishes its own set of enrollment criteria; you will not be able to find a uniform enrollment process to prove Native American ancestry. The criteria can typically be found in a tribe’s ordinances, articles of incorporation, or constitution.
Two of the most common requirements are deemed from the tribe’s base roll, which is an original list of members from a document that specifies tribal enrollment criteria, such as the tribal constitution. You will often need to prove that you descend from someone listed on the base roll, or prove a relationship with someone else descended from a base roll member. There are other conditions in place for tribal enrollment, too, such as continued contact with your tribe, a tribal residency, or tribal blood quantum.
How to Apply for Tribal Enrollment
Applying for tribal enrollment will come after you’ve completed the rest of your genealogical research. You’ll want to make sure you are applying to the correct tribe, which is more possible after you’ve obtained enough information about your ancestor’s tribal affiliation.
Then, you will need to reach out directly to the tribe in question, and they will be able to fill you in on their enrollment criteria. Though there are large Native American organizations that exist, such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs, they are rarely involved in the process of tribal enrollment. Check out our tribal directory to find contacts for the tribe you need. There are 562 total.
As you go through the process of attempting to procure tribal enrollment, it is a good idea to contact the tribe early on. They will be able to tell you what you need to do at every step in the process.
Why Is Tribal Enrollment So Restrictive?
As we stated earlier, Native American tribes are sovereign nations and therefore are able to determine their own standards for the legal recognition of tribe members. This is because those seeking tribal enrollment may be doing so for the benefits that come with it, such as education or health services access. Strict tribal enrollment rules are in place to allow these tribes to make sure there are not individuals taking advantage of the system.
Last Updated on June 7, 2023 by Paul G
April Dlugosh
says:I am 23percent native american by what my DNA says but not sure how to find out from what tribe or band of Indians i do know one of our great 2xs over married and Indian but in the census it doesnt give a name just says Indian also says blue eyed indian not sure what that means also we have been told stories of being related to the Lakota sioux in pine ridge and cherokees from oklahome not sure on how to find out what tribes we are from any suggestions
Daniel
says:My name is Daniel moberly and I was needing help determining if I’m native American because my grandparents and father were full blooded Cherokee
Anita Motola
says:Contact the: Cherokee National Research Center in Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Mark Aguilar
says:I had my DNA tested a few years ago and it came back roughly 50/50 Southern European and Native American which is encouraging and pretty accurate if the research I’ve accumulated in conjunction with my elder Uncle, who himself has gone to Spain, is factual. My Uncle started his search many years ago and has been to both Spain and Mexico to conclude that our origins here date to circa 1493-94. On my paternal side I have followed my Aunts initial research done some 30+ years ago which documents my ancestral heritage to a Native California maiden who married a Spanish soldier and settled in Los Angeles in 1781. There is a story behind both sides of my Native geneolgical composition of both sides which favor both Apache and a Southern California Tribe, of which there were several. My question to you, after what I’ve related to you, is which tribe should I relate to? I was born in Northern California, lived here all my life and recently have made contact with a distant cousin from Southern California who has the same documentation I have and agrees that we are, in fact, descendants from the same Native ancestor.
Frances Valdez Madrizd
says:I have done my Dna and came back Native american and Spaniard, I have done My Genealogy and have found some information on My Great Great Grandmother she was a Navajo, she was captured and baptized and sold as a servant in New Mexico. I dont know who her parents were but she took on the last name of the people who bought her i have found records stating is is Navajo, but I am stuck what do i do next?
Dolores Maynard
says:I am in southern California and would like to know where to go get blood test done to confirm Iroquoi Indian. I am 39%. But need to make sure of that tribe.
Paul G
says:Look here – https://www.powwows.com/much-percentage-native-american-enrol-tribe/
Cynthia
says:I live in Bakersfield ca, I’ve done 23 and me confirming my family native American not sure which tribes or how to go further.
[email protected]
Eva Martinez
says:Hello, I did the ancestry dna and it came at 94% native american. I would like to know about my bloodline. I dont know much about my grand parents as they were orphans. Please guide me I would like to know about my ancestors.
Bobbieann carpenter
says:Hello I got my dna results back from ancestry I’m 46% Native American. Now I don’t know where to go from here to find what tribe my bloodline is from and if I can register in the tribe
Paul G
says:Start here – newpowwows.www.powwows.com/am-i-native
Eva Martinez
says:Hello, I did the ancestry dna and it came at 94% native american. I would like to know about my bloodline. I dont know much about my grand parents as they were orphans. Please guide me I would like to know about my ancestors.
Ganolvsgi Agasgi
says:start with your grandparents. look up all their siblings .look at great grandparents…aunts uncles.each’s story might yield a clue. for me it(my native side research) was easy,finding names on the rolls,in census and such. ancestry…find a grave .com ,etc.but why mine was so easy,i was a descendant of historical people and much of the detective work had already been done for me and was made public by others. didn’t have to pay a dime to find a possible connection all the way to a guy named donnacona circa 1485. i have no intention of actually joining the nation at this point.i’d like to attend and learn at events up there,but i’m not seeking to gain anything from simply being part cherokee.nowadays it is cool to be an indian,but in days of my grandmother it wasn’t.i’ve tried to focus on who they were and what they endured than myself. i’m very proud of whom i came from though .it is nice to know what i was pretty sure of anyways. i do know and understand more about myself from my search ,and recommend anyone who is searching to focus on the struggles of your ancestors ,whoever they prove to be .i know about my ancestors struggles now and many of their names.my duty to them as well as myself….to know their story. for a person adopted about at birth ,it was important to know and to end the mystery of where and who i came from.well to any searching…hope this helps.
Andrea Braden
says:Paul if I Get My DNA test will that be proof enough for a tribe to enroll in there tribe. Also what Indians are from Pennsylvania? That’s where I was born and I was told my great grandmother was Indian but not sure what tribe she was from. Sincerely Andrea Braden
Paul G
says:No DNA tests will not be enough for enrollment.
Rhonda Harris
says:Hi 👋
How about pictures and letters.
I showed my friend a picture and he said my family looks strange.
I think they are from an island north of Canada.
Gloryann Dean
says:The story of my heritage from my mother..my grandfathers grandfather came from Ireland named Aaron Roach married a cherokee woman and that’s all I know
Erin Akins
says:I’ve got many roadblocks in being able to figure out my native American heritage. I know I am tiwa pueblo tribe but my grandfather won’t ever talk about our heritage and give me names of my relatives. What can I do to find my heritage and possibly living relatives. All I know of my great grandmother was that she was 100 native American from what my mother has told me.
Twana Clark
says:I have found doing my reserch my grandmother is Gracie Sexton,her father John Sexton,his father Moses Sexton, his mother is Catherine Gallion,her Mother is Nancy Gallion (Cherokee )her mother is April Gallion( Cherokee )called her cherokee girl) which was belived she dided on the trail of tears also they were from North Carolina.
Deborah Poole
says:I have been told by several family members that Quanah Parker is my second great grandfather on my father’s side. My problem is trying to figure out which of his many wives is my second great grandmother. I have found base roll memberships as well as property that was allotted to other members on my mother’s side. I plan to have a DNA test done once I get the money but my question is do I apply to that Blackfoot Shoshone tribe or tracing the original Comanche tribe that has been merged with the Cherokee tribe during the trail of tears?
alex potter
says:my DNA tested and the results where 33% Native American, I would like to know what tribe i’m from
elias Mendoza
says:I am done a DNA test and found out that I am 57% Native American I have call the tribe and they kind of laugh at me so I kind of stuck where I’m at right now
Rocio
says:I came out 50% Native American from Mexico, 30% Iberian, 10% Southern European, 5% North African, and Ashkenazy Jew. I look very Indigenous and I’m proud. I just wish I could belong to my tribe which was wiped out by the Spaniards.
Kim Dowell
says:my Dna came back Hunduran/native and I have traced census of my great grandmother and grandmother stating native from Attleboro,ma. and on my grandfathers side census with native from Penobscott,maine. There is no tribe information for either how can I find out which tribes?