My wife is Native American and wants to become a member of her tribe. How do we start?

Question

She is Comanche.

Answer 1

RustSKIPper gave you good advice. I can only give you practical advice. The tribes don't want to find new members. With the rise of Indian casinos across the country, "lost" tribal members have come out of the woodwork. Doesn't matter if you're legitimately part of the tribe or not, they don't want you. The reason is (simply enough) that you joining the tribe dilutes the profitability of their venture. The only people they want to find are the children stolen from them by the State back in the 40s-60s who were put up for adoption into white families. But before assuming that's you, they'll do DNA testing to prove the person is one of their missing children.

The next thing you have to know is that a "tribe" is not a broad term. If your wife is a Chippewa, for instance, she would have to find that her registered ancestor was a Saginaw tribal member, Lake Superior tribal member, or Bay Mills tribal member. Each of these bands is autonomous and has their own requirements for proving your lineage and registering as a tribal member. They'll all hassle you to prove this. It's not enough to say "I'm Chippewa". You have to be able to say, "My ancestors were from the Saginaw tribal council and lived on the Isabella reservation until 1957. Here are all of their names, their military service records, birth records, death records, baptismal records, tribal membership information and proof that they are my grandparents. To prove that, here's a certified copy of their marriage license, a certified copy of my dad's birth certificate and baptismal certificate. Here's a certified copy of my mom and dad's marriage license and a certified copy of my birth certificate and baptismal certificate, plus a copy of my drivers license issued by the State of Michigan. Also included are sworn affidavits by my father and grandfather that all of this information is true and correct and no documents have been altered."

Answer 2

Hey lesliesguy,

Ah, you need to know who in the family is registered in Dawes Role.

That was an attempt back in the 1900's to 'americanize' all native Americans, and essentially eliminate tribes. It backfired in the governments face, but if your Wife's ancestor is not on the Dawes Role, it will be difficult to officially say you are a member. If I knew which tribe, I could help you more too. Because each tribe has their own set of Websites.

So, Trace her Family Tree Branch, that is Native American, using at least 2 Vital Records per individual (Her, Birth and Marriage to you), Her Father (or mother which ever has the Native American heritage), get their Birth, Marriage, and Death if not living. Keep going back until you can prove that the person on the Dawes Role is tied to her. Each Vital Record, Birth, Death, Marriage lists the persons Parents, or the connection to the ancestors. So you form an Ancestral chain or pedigree.

You can use software to organize this also, see some of the last sites. Here are a bunch you might like.

Oh, yea, come back and ask more questions, people here will give good answers too!

Answer 3

Information on how to become enrolled is listed below:

To become enrolled in one's tribe is often a difficult process. Once one is enrolled one will have certain rights as a Native person. It is true that no one needs to prove their ethnic identity but to have full access to rights for Native people one must be enrolled.

To become enrolled one must first should call one's tribe and find out the enrollment requirements. They are different per tribe.
For most tribes you have to prove descendency and have a certain blood quantum. To prove descendency one needs to have some record of her belonging to a member of the tribe that was recognized by the tribe at some point, hopefully an individual that was enrolled at some point. The average blood quantum standard is 1/4. Unless you are Cherokee, they pretty much accept any blood quantum.

If you don't have contact with your father then you can ask the tribe to look for his last name. They can look this up and see if his family line is registered. If so then your in luck. If they don't immediately find it then you can use the tribal newspaper and submit an article asking if anyone has lineage to your father.

Many Native people can never become enrolled because standards of enrollment are high and were set up by the White government to oppress Native people and Native people have yet to change them.

To become more involved in one'sculture one might want to look up local Native organizations or local tribes. Try going to Pow-wow's (because they are easy to find) and talk to community members there. Many colleges/universities have a Native student union where one can get involved or get more information.

Please remember ancestry is very difficult for many Native people.

By the way, I am Native, so I have some knowledge pertaining to this.

Answer 4

I would contact the tribal headquaters. I believe the amount of Comanche blood to join is 1/4 or possibly 1/2.

Answer 5

Well I am Osage Indian.

I have been a member since I was born.

When my kids were born we contacted the tribal agency and got a application sent to us to become a member.

Does she have a census number??

The people at your wife tribal agency should be very helpful in walking her through the steps.

Check online too.

My tribe has the info online, addresses, phone numbers, and what you need to send.

Good Luck!

Answer 6

rip-off could be an relatively polite call for what this guy is doing. For everybody to alter right into a member of a Federally known united states (or "Tribe") one has to have the skill to instruct an on the spot lineage via start, dying, marriage records, to a individual who looks on the nearby Rolls. This of direction differs from united states to united states. as an occasion in case you had to connect the Cherokee united states of Oklahoma you may could have the skill to instruct you have an ancestor who's call looks on the Dawes Roll, for the jap Band of Cherokee it may be the Guion Miller Roll. for various countries the talents variety, yet NONE of them will basically admit somebody who fills out an application and mails it in. It basically would not paintings that way. And basically Federally known countries acquire any advantages from the federal government. Their are people out their who "prey" upon people searching for expertise approximately nearby individuals, however the people doing the "preying" have not got a clue as to what being nearby American skill. do no longer fall for everybody asserting you pays to connect a "tribe" is basically isn't so.....

Answer 7

Isn't everyone born in America a Native American?

Answer 8

Depends on country: canada or us.

Mabye start by contacting tribe. rules pretty annoying. good luck.

Answer 9

Big OWL says to start dancing with the Yellow DUCK. If that dont succeed then dance around the fire while the coyotes howl in the middle of a summer night drinking the water of fire and howling hehehehlooooo.......yiaaaaaaaaa.

JUST KIDING.