Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

in order to enroll with the choctaw tribe, you would have to be directly descended from an original enrollee. the dawes roll was taken 1896-1906 and the applicants’ names are on that roll. some applicants were denied but many were accepted.

are any of your family enrolled?

genealogists use names, dates, locations, children and spouses to match records. if you have a common surname, you need to give more information rather than less. if you post about women, it is helpful to include the maiden name and the married name and designate which one is the maiden name.

first of all, heritage and tribal enrollment are two different things. many times natives didn’t apply for enrollment because 1) they didn’t qualify, 2) they were philosophically opposed to enrollment, 3) they didn’t have documentation, or 4) they were mississippi choctaw and their ancestor had accepted land or benefits in lieu of tribal enrollment.

the dawes roll was taken 1896-1906, so you should trace your ancestors down to that time period. mostly, they had to be living in oklahoma by that time and agree to live there permanently.

if the name is common, you may find too many possible records.

the tribe has an excellent information to help you. it is found under genealogy advocacy.
http://choctawnation.com/services/departments/community-services/

mississippi choctaw and choctaw tribe explained here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choctaw_Trail_of_Tears

i have collected many resources over the years. if you want to write to me, shamlet76@gmail.com and request the choctaw resource list, i will be glad to send it to you.

i am just a volunteer that wants to empower people to learn how to do genealogy.

suzanne hamlet shatto

Thanks Suzanne, I’ll send you an email for that list.
James

Hello James:

Like Suzanne advised you must first obtain a CDIB (Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood). In order to do this you must connect to a blood relative of the Dawes Commission Enrollment. Copy and past below link and search the Dawes roll for the enrollee’s number. Instructions at bottom of page.

http://www.okhistory.org/research/dawes/dawesresults.php?cardnum=CC%23%201399%20Page%2024

Next connect to this relative through documentation. Example, birth or death certificates and sometimes marriage license.
These documents must be state certified through the issuing state. You will have to contact the State departments yourself. I was born in Texas so I contacted Austin, Texas. My mother was born in Oklahoma, so I contacted Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. You will need to do this for each document.

Go to the below link for official Choctaw Nation application forms.

http://www.choctawnation.com/services/choctaw-nation-applications

As in my case my mother’s father is an original enrollee. So I submitted my mother’s birth certificate which connected her to her father who is an original enrollee (John “Dutch” Spring Jr.). I submitted my birth certificate which connected me to her. I also for clarification submitted her marriage license which listed her maiden name and consequently her married name, my surname.

The degree of Indian blood varies for certain benefits. So you will need to identify the benefit sought and read the instructions on the appropriate application. See link above that takes you to the application forms.

I have a niece that obtained her Nurse degree (RN) through financial benefits at no cost to her. Her CDIB is 5/64 0r 1/12.8. So I’ve heard that you can talk it, walk it, look it, but if you can not prove your blood, you’re not. However, if you can prove a drop, you are.

Good Luck.

Jonathan S. Chilton

Should wish to contact me:

jsc1134@aol.com