Tracing your Cherokee heritage can be difficult. For many reasons, our ancestors chose not to say they were "Indian", or said they were less "Indian blood" than they were. Some did this to protect themselves and their families, making it a difficult task for some to trace their ancestry.

In order to register with the Cherokee Nation, you must be able to trace your enrolled lineal ancestor(s) back to the Dawes Roll and submit the necessary documentation and enrollment application.