If you have a great, great grandmother that is full blooded Cherokee, can you legally claim Indian heritage?

Answer 1

In Australia you only need to be 5% Aboriginal to make a heritage claim , so I see no reason why you shouldn't.

Answer 2

You can claim Native American heritage if you can prove it with the birth certificates of your parents, grandparents, great grandparents and finally your great-great grandmother. If birth certificates do not prove the lineage you may be able to find your ancestors on the tribal rolls for the Cherokee nation she belonged to. Census surveys were taken in the late 1800s for most tribes. I would start your search by going first determining which Cherokee nation she belonged (look at the link below). Then after fininding out that go to the next link which explains the qualifications for membership. The first step to membership is finding your great-great grandmother on the Dawes Rolls. Hopefully this enough to get you started. Also, I have supplied a link to the Dawes Rolls' index.

Answer 3

Yes....

But you must document it with birth and death certificates. And with enrollment numbers from the Dawes Rolls (or other rolls). They also asked for a family tree to show the relationship from you to that fullblooded Indian. Once you've provided the proof, you'll be issued a CDIB card and enrollment in the tribe.

I did this with my Choctaw grandmother and I'm in the Choctaw tribe now. I am also Cherokee. But my Cherokee roots go further back and they were not counted on the Dawes rolls (only some of their descendarts were counted and that won't help me, I don't think). I have 1 Choctaw line and 3 Cherokee lines. So I"m actually more Cherokee, than Choctaw. But legally, I'm Choctaw.

If you know her name and can gather your proof....You ar in good shape. Good luck to ya!

Answer 4

Not if you're applying for college scholarships. My Great great grandmother was a full blooded Blackfoot Cherokee who married a white man. I think legally you have to be no less than 1/4, but I have no idea what actual Cherokee regulations would be on that...if you have a geneology buff in the family you can usually find out a lot of interesting stuff. Maybe one of your (distant)relatives could help answer your question as well?

Answer 5

I dont know if the rules vary by tribe, but I have a friend who is part of the Chicasaw tribe. She is 1/16th Chicasaw and her children will not be able to claim Indian heritage. Since your great, great grandmother was Cherokee, you would be 1/32nd Cherokee. You would have to ask the tribe what their rules are, but if the 1/16th thing is a federal rule than no you will not be able to claim Indian heritage.

Answer 6

'siyo (hello)

Technically, if your lineage has Cherokee in it, you can say you are cherokee.

However, if your question is can you join a tribe, it depends on which tribe. The Western Cherokee in Oklahoma have specific rules which you can look up on their website, for example, I believe you have to have no more than a two generational skip from one who was listed on the Dawes Rolls. However, other tribes, (mostly those that do not have "benefits" or are not federally recognized though may be state recognized or applying for recognition) have "easier" claims - The Western Cherokee Nation of Arkansas and Missouri allows you to join if you can prove through documentation that you have ancestry from their area, I believe prior to the 1850s. There are many, many tribes, The Western Cherokee of the Arkansas and Louisiana Territory, The Old Settlers, the Eastern Band, etc.

And know also that the term "benefits" can mean anything from payments, res. land, free medical, education, etc.. My tribe is not federally recognized in one sense, but has recieved funds from the feds for certain recognized activities and has members who have recieved medical benefits and educational benefits with our membership card.

BTW - do not know if you have roll numbers, etc.. but, if that is your only Cherokee relative, you would be 1/32; but many people have several "donators" in their lineage to boost their blood quantum.

I would be happy to help / advise in any way possible. I am a Member of the Western Cherokee Nation of Arkansas and Missouri based in Paragould, AR and am just under a half blood quantum. I used to work in the tribal office verifying and assisting with calculating blood quantums / issuing cards, etc.

Do nah dah go uh ee (phoentically spelled)
Goodbye until we meet again...

Answer 7

what do you mean by legally? You obviously have Cherokee heritage, and can say so. If you want to be recognized as a member of the Cherokee nation, they probably have some sort of application process that would determine what % you need to be to be officially a member. I heard once it was 1/16th, which would mean one great-grandparent, so a GG wouldn't cut it.

Answer 8

the better term for your claim would be Native American. if you said you were Indian, people would think you had ancestors from India. Cherokee is a Native American tribe, and like you said, your great-great grandmother is pure Cherokee. a great-great grandmother on my mother's father's side is also pure Cherokee. therefore, we and our family members have one thing in common: we have Cherokee blood.

Answer 9

Yes, you can. If you have a great great great great great great great grandparent that's verifiably Indian, you can claim Indian heritage. If you go to the federated tribal office, you can submit whatever proof you have to be legally registered.

Answer 10

These rules vary from nation to nation. You'd have to research the Cherokee nation specifically and their laws.

(Your percentage sounds like about 1/16 if you are...)