"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Cherokee Nation Offering Registration Assistance

TAHLEQUAH, OK — The Cherokee Nation will offer assistance this spring with applications for Certificate Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) cards and citizenship in the Cherokee Nation at several field sites throughout the tribe’s 14-county area. The sites and schedule follow.

In Delaware County, registration assistance will be available on Monday, April 6, Monday, May 4 and Monday, June 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Sam Hider Community Health Center, located at 1015 Washbourne Street in Jay.

Collinsville area residents can register on Tuesday, June 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Cherokee Nation Tag Office, located at 105 E. Main in Collinsville.

In Sequoyah County, registration assistance will be available on Wednesday, April 8, Wednesday May 13 and Wednesday, June 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Muldrow Cherokee Community Center, 607 N. Main in Muldrow. Registration will also be available on Monday, April 13, Friday, May 8 and Friday, June 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cherokee Nation Sallisaw Sub-office, 110 N. Elm in Sallisaw.

Registration assistance in Craig County will be available on Wednesday, June 17, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Cherokee Nation Sub-office in Tom Buffington Heights, located at 900 W. McNelis #31-B in Vinita.

In Rogers County, registration help will be available on Wednesday, April 22, Wednesday, May 27 and Wednesday, June 24, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Claremore Indian Hospital, located on Will Rogers Boulevard.

The main Cherokee Nation registration department is located in the W.W. Keeler Complex in Tahlequah, and is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. There is no charge to apply for tribal citizenship.

In order to obtain a CDIB, applicants 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 of the Cherokee Nation, commonly called the Dawes Final Rolls. These rolls were compiled between the years 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 descendants of Cherokee Indians can neither be certified nor qualify for tribal citizenship in the Cherokee Nation 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 Cherokee Nation and settled in states such as Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri or Texas during that period, they lost their citizenship with the Cherokee Nation. Only enrolled citizens of the Cherokee Nation named on the Final Rolls and/or their descendants are eligible for Certificates of Degree of Indian Blood and tribal citizenship.

Registration sites are visited every three months. The schedule is subject to change due to weather, holidays or emergency situations. For more information about Cherokee Nation registration services call 918-458-6980.