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TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA – The Cherokee Nation will be hosting one-day, off-site registration during January for individuals wishing to gain Cherokee citizenship. Registration sites will be offered January 5 at The Hope Center in Westville, January 13 at the Sallisaw Sub-Office in Sallisaw, January 18 at Tom Buffington Heights in Vinita and January 25 at the Claremore IHS Hospital in Claremore.

Those wishing to be eligible for Tribal Citizenship with the Cherokee Nation must apply and be able to present a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) issued by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

In order to obtain a CDIB, registrants must formally apply and provide acceptable legal documents which connect them to an ancestor, who is listed with a roll number and a blood degree from the final rolls of citizens and freedmen of the FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES, Cherokee Nation, (commonly called the Dawes Commission of Final Rolls). These rolls were compiled between the years of 1899-1906. Quantum of Indian Blood is computed from the nearest paternal and/or maternal direct ancestor(s) of Indian blood listed on the Final Rolls.

Many descendents of Cherokee Indians can neither be certified nor qualify for tribal citizenship in the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma because their ancestors were not enrolled during the final enrollment. Unfortunately, these ancestors did not meet the requirements for the final enrollment. The requirements at that time were (1) applying between 1899-1906, (2) appearing on previous tribal rolls of 1880 or 1896, and (3) having a permanent residence within the Cherokee Nation (now the 14 northeastern counties of Oklahoma). If the ancestors had separated from the Tribe and settled in states such as Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Texas, they lost their citizenship within the Cherokee Nation. Only enrolled citizens of the Cherokee Nation named on the Final Rolls and/or their descendents are furnished Certificates of Degree of Indian Blood and Tribal Citizenship.

For more information on Cherokee Nation registration, call the Registration department, phone: 918-453-5000.

Related Cherokee Nation contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org