Tribal Enrollment

Tribal enrollment allows someone to become a registered member of the tribe. There are many reasons people enroll in tribes including maintaining membership on the base roll, tracing ancestry, and tribal benefits. Because tribes are sovereign nations, tribal enrollment and membership requirements are set by each tribe. These requirements are most often set in the tribal constitution, tribal code, tribal ordinance, or the articles of incorporation and vary from tibe to tribe.

Common requirements for membership can include a lineal descendency from someone already registered with the tribe, a certain amount of tribal blood, living on the reservation, or maintaining contact with the tribe. These requirements help preserve the history, culture and traditions of the tribe.

How do I apply for enrollment in a tribe?
First you should contact the tribes enrollment office. You can find contact information for most tribes here. You may also try searching your tribes legal documents if they are available online here. In most cases, you will need to trace your family tree to document your Indian ancestry and this can be done through genealogical research (click here for more information.) You may also want to contact the tribe as they maintain enrollment records and records about past members that you may be able to search. The proccess that the tribes use to verify tribal membership are used to ensure the credibility of membership and to prevent fraud. Additionally, some federal and tribal benefits programs may require proof of Indian blood to receive services.

Enrollment Resources

Click on a resource for more information. Additional resources may be found at the Bureau of Indian Affairs or by contacting the local tribe here.

• Bureau of Indian Affairs - The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) responsibility is the administration and management of 55.7 million acres of land held in trust by the United States for American Indians, Indian tribes, and Alaska Natives.
• Bureau of Indian Affairs Certificate of Indian Blood - This rule will establish documentation requirements and standards for filing, processing, and issuing a Certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaska Native Blood (CDIB) by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (Bureau).
• Enrollment Dictionary - Rolls are used by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and tribal governments to determine who is eligible for citizenship in various Indian nations. You will often see these terms used in tribal consitutions, BIA documents and tribal enrollment ordinances.
• Enrollment in a Federally Recognized Tribe - Tribal enrollment requirements preserve the unique character and traditions of each tribe. The tribes establish membership criteria based on shared customs, traditions, language and tribal blood.
• Enrollment Procedures - Tribal governments use a variety of methods to determine their membership, some with blood quantum requirements, others without. The decision of whether or not to use a blood quantum requirement is wholly at the discretion of the tribe as a part of their tribal sovereignty.
• Enrollment Procedures - Tribal governments use a variety of methods to determine their membership, some with blood quantum requirements, others without. The decision of whether or not to use a blood quantum requirement is wholly at the discretion of the tribe as a part of their tribal sovereignty.
• Understanding the History of Enrollment - It's difficult to talk about tribal enrollment without talking about Indian identity. The two issues have become snarled in the twentieth century as the United States government has inserted itself more and more into the internal affairs of Indian nations.