Channel 8 News 28 April 2016
"How to get your CDIB {Certificate of Degree
of Indian Blood} card and apply for tribal citizenship
BY LAUREN PARTAIN THURSDAY, APRIL 28TH 2016
TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — It's not uncommon to hear people say their
ancestors declined to sign the 1906 Dawes Rolls.
"When it was finalized in 1906 it was not a good thing to be Native
American during those times, so a lot of people, if you wanted control
of your own land, you didn't want to be half or more," said Anthony
Beaver, an enrollment specialist at the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Citizenship
Office.
But today, the Dawes Rolls are the only way to prove tribal citizenship.
According to the United States Census Bureau, 9 percent of Oklahoma's
population made up the "American Indian and Alaska Native alone"
category at the time of the last census in July 2014.
Native Americans are the second largest minority group in the state
behind Hispanics.
APPLICATION
Receiving a Certificate Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) card is the first
step to gaining tribal citizenship.
"We always encourage applicants when their children are born to
go ahead and apply for their CDIB cards and tribal citizenship,"
said Justin Godwin, associate tribal registrar for the Cherokee Nation.
To apply for a CDIB card, a person must first
prove they are a direct descendant of someone on the 1906 Dawes Rolls.
Once a person finds a family member on the roll they
must provide a copy of the birth and/or death certificates of everyone
in the lineage.
"A lot of people don't understand why we need certain documents,
especially when it comes to different birth and death certificates and
why we need this and why we need that proving their lineage," said
Beaver. "You have to look at it like we are a nation, this is a citizen
and a citizenship process. You would look at it as you would going into
becoming a citizen of the United States and what they would offer as well."
An applicant must then submit their own birth
certificate, driver's license and social security card.
Once this is all complete the Bureau of Indian Affairs will determine
if a person is eligible for the CDIB card.
Beaver said this process can take anywhere between six to eight weeks.
The Cherokee Nation is the only civilized tribe allowed to use their
registrar to approve the request. This can speed up the process.
"That's how far we've come and we're very thankful the Cherokees
are that highly respected," said Linda O'Leary, tribal registrar
for the Cherokee Nation.
After applying for a CDIB Card a person can now apply for tribal citizenship.
The Five Civilized Tribes include the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw,
Muscogee (Creek) and Seminole.
Allan Colbert, a research specialist and supervisor at the Muscogee
(Creek) Nation, said a person must show their CDIB card, proof of lineage
and fill out the proper paperwork to become a citizen. This process can
take a day with the right documents.
"Basically everything is just done through the lineage," he
said. "If the documentation is there and then they are linking to
that ancestor on the 1906 Dawes roll then that allows them to be eligible
for citizenship."
The Cherokee Nation has a similar process to become a citizen. After
gaining citizenship their people can also apply for a photo ID card.
A citizen can use this card just like a regular driver's license.
The card also conveniently places their citizenship and CDIB enrollment
in one place.
O'Leary said their chief has used his photo ID card to go through the
CIA, Homeland Security and sit by President Barack Obama at the White
House.
"That is a great big honor for us to be able to use that card to
that degree to gain entrance to the White House and sit by the president,"
she said.
MYTHS
Although the process seems simple, people still believe some myths when
it comes to getting their CDIB card or gaining citizenship.
Officials in the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Citizenship Office said a person's
ancestors must have lived in Oklahoma at the turn of the century to have
signed the Dawes Rolls between 1898 and 1906, there is no fee for citizenship
and the tribes will not accept DNA or blood tests to prove citizenship.
"The deal on the DNA test is it doesn't specifically state what
tribe you are from," said Beaver. "It does state that you may
have DNA American Indian blood within you but we can't accept that."
BENEFITS
Some benefits of enrolling in each tribe include higher education scholarships,
health care and even housing.
O'Leary said the Cherokee Nation has a system when it comes to giving
people benefits.
"A lot of the services are income based, it's a low income base
but we serve the neediest of the needy, and plus we serve other people
that are eligible through their Indian ancestry," she said.
People with questions about the application process should contact the
tribes and do some research before attempting to enroll.
"In the end it's all worth it, you know that pride of knowing you
are a citizen," said Beaver.
ENROLLING
Each of the tribes listed below has applications for the CDIB Card and
for citizenship on their websites.
Tulsa's Channel 8 has listed what you need to know for each tribe's
citizenship:
Cherokee
Must have CDIB card to become a citizen
Citizenship card never expires
Allows dual enrollment
No blood quantum
Chickasaw
Must have CDIB card to become a citizen
Citizenship card never expires
No dual enrollment
No blood quantum
Choctaw
Must have CDIB card to become a citizen
Citizenship card never expires
No dual enrollment
No blood quantum
Muscogee (Creek)
Must have CDIB card to become a citizen
Citizenship card expires every five years
No dual enrollment
No blood quantum
Seminole
Must have CDIB card to become a citizen
Citizenship card doesn't expire but must update with each new chief's
signature
No dual enrollment
No blood quantum"
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