Individuals with some degree of documented Cherokee descent who do not meet the criteria for

Cherokee The Cherokee (; , or ) people are one of the Indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, they were concentrated in their homelands, in towns along river valleys of what is now southwestern ...

tribal citizenship may describe themselves as "being of Cherokee descent" or as "being a Cherokee descendant". These terms are also used by non-Native individuals whose ancestry has not been independently verified. According to Gregory D. Smithers, a large number of Americans describe themselves in this way: "In 2000, the federal census reported that 729,533 Americans self-identified as Cherokee. By 2010, that number increased, with the Census Bureau reporting that 819,105 Americans claimed at least one Cherokee ancestor." By contrast, as of 2012 there were only 330,716 enrolled Cherokee citizens (Cherokee Nation: 288,749; United Keetoowah Band: 14,300;"Pocket Pictorial"
''Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commission''. 2010: 6 and 37. (retrieved June 11, 2010). Eastern Band: 14,667).

Citizenship

There are three

federally recognized This is a list of federally recognized tribes in the contiguous United States. There are also federally recognized Alaska Native tribes. , 574 Indian tribes are legally recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) of the United States.

Cherokee tribes: the

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), (Cherokee language, Cherokee: ᏣᎳᎩᏱ ᏕᏣᏓᏂᎸᎩ, ''Tsalagiyi Detsadanilvgi'') is a List of federally recognized tribes in the contiguous United States, federally recognized Indian Tribe, ...

(ECBI) in North Carolina, the

United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma ( or , abbreviated United Keetoowah Band or UKB) is a federally recognized tribe of Cherokee Native Americans headquartered in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. According to the UKB website, its memb ...

(UKB) in Oklahoma, and the

Cherokee Nation The Cherokee Nation ( or ) is the largest of three list of federally recognized tribes, federally recognized tribes of Cherokees in the United States. It includes people descended from members of the Cherokee Nation (1794–1907), Old Cheroke ...

(CN) in Oklahoma. Enrollment criteria are different for each nation. * Eastern Band citizenship requirements are as follows: ::"1. A direct lineal ancestor must appear on the 1924 Baker Roll of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. ::"2. You must possess at least 1/16 degree of Eastern Cherokee blood. Please note:

Blood quantum Blood quantum laws or Indian blood laws are laws that define Native Americans in the United States status by fractions of Native American ancestry. These laws were enacted by the Federal government of the United States, federal government and S ...

is calculated from your ancestor listed on the 1924 Baker Roll." * United Keetoowah Band requirements are as follows: ::"To be eligible for UKB membership, Cherokees must be able to provide documentation that they are a descendant of an individual listed on the 1949 United Keetoowah Band Base Roll or of an individual listed on the final Dawes Roll." ::"The UKB has a minimum blood quantum requirement of one quarter (1/4) degree Keetoowah Cherokee blood." * Cherokee Nation requirements are as follows: ::The applicant must "provide documents that connect you to an enrolled lineal ancestor, who is listed on the 'DAWES ROLL' FINAL ROLLS OF CITIZENS AND FREEDMEN OF THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES, Cherokee Nation with a blood degree."

Social recognition

Kim TallBear (

Dakota Dakota may refer to: * Dakota people, a sub-tribe of the Sioux ** Dakota language, their language Dakota may also refer to: Places United States * Dakota, Georgia, an unincorporated community * Dakota, Illinois, a town * Dakota, Minnesota ...

), author of ''Native American DNA: Tribal Belonging and the False Promise of Genetic Science'', says that Indigenous identity is not about any distant ancestor, but rather political citizenship, culture, kinship, and daily, lived experience as part of an Indigenous community. She states that while DNA can indicate one's biological relatives, actual tribal membership is a legal category based on complex understandings of family relations, governmental and tribal rules, and reservation histories.

Reasons for self-identification without citizenship or social recognition

Self-identification occurs when a person states that they have Indigenous identity or descent with no confirmation or acceptance from the tribe they claim. There are many reasons people may self-identify as Cherokee or as Cherokee descendants without meeting enrollment criteria and without being part of the Cherokee community: * Many

Cherokee heritage groups Cherokee heritage groups are associations, societies and other organizations located primarily in the United States. Such groups consist of persons who do not qualify for enrollment in any of the three federally recognized Cherokee tribes (the Cher ...

, organizations that explore and appropriate aspects of

Cherokee history Cherokee history is the recorded history, written and oral tradition, oral lore, traditions, and historical record maintained by the living Cherokee people and their ancestors. In the 21st century, leaders of the Cherokee people define themselve ...

and

culture Culture ( ) is a concept that encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and Social norm, norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, Social norm, customs, capabilities, Attitude (psychology), attitudes ...

, exist across the US, as well as

unrecognized tribes These organizations, located within the United States, self-identify as Native American tribes, heritage groups, or descendant communities, but they are not federally recognized or state-recognized as Native American tribes. The U.S. Governmental ...

and other organizations, with one estimate putting the combined number as high as 200. Membership in these groups, in some cases, requires genealogical proof of Cherokee ancestry, but many others have no requirements at all. * Many non-Indigenous American families, especially those with roots in the South, have a

family folklore Family folklore is the branch of folkloristics concerned with the study and use of folklore and traditional culture transmitted within an individual family group. This includes craft goods produced by family members or memorabilia that have bee ...

s and

oral histories Oral history is the collection and study of historical information from people, families, important events, or everyday life using audiotapes, videotapes, or transcriptions of planned interviews. These interviews are conducted with people who pa ...

of Cherokee ancestry. This has sometimes been called " Cherokee Princess Syndrome" or having a "blood myth". * Many Americans suggest Cherokee descent to explain physical traits that they believe are evidence of non-European or non-African ancestries, such as " high cheek bones", tan skin, straight dark hair, and

keloid Keloid, also known as keloid disorder and keloidal scar, is the formation of a type of scar which, depending on its maturity, is composed mainly of either type III (early) or type I (late) collagen. It is a result of an overgrowth of granulation t ...

scars. Henry Louis Gates Jr. suggests that, in the case of African Americans, this can sometimes be a more tolerable explanation for these physical features than the realities of slavery and rape. * Anthropologist Kim TallBear describes some individuals asserting Native American ancestry based on

DNA testing Genetic testing, also known as DNA testing, is used to identify changes in DNA sequence or chromosome structure. Genetic testing can also include measuring the results of genetic changes, such as RNA analysis as an output of gene expression, or ...

, who begin searching for "Cherokee ancestral lines" after this. She states, however, "There is no DNA test to prove you're Native American", and that this group mostly continues to identify as white.

Issues with descent-based identity claims

Individuals who claim Cherokee descent do not meet the criteria necessary to claim Native American identity under the provisions of the

American Indian Arts and Crafts Act American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...

, except for those enrolled in one of the seven

state-recognized tribes State-recognized tribes in the United States are Native American tribes or heritage groups that do not meet the criteria for federally recognized Indian tribes but have been recognized by state government through laws, governor's executive orders ...

who identify as Cherokee. The academic Joel W. Martin noted that "an astonishing number of southerners assert they have a grandmother or great-grandmother who was some kind of Cherokee, often a princess", and that such myths serve settler purposes in aligning

American frontier The American frontier, also known as the Old West, and popularly known as the Wild West, encompasses the Geography of the United States, geography, History of the United States, history, Folklore of the United States, folklore, and Cultur ...

romance with southern regionalism and pride.

External links

*
History Talk - My Great Grandma was a Cherokee Princess

Notes