Cherokee dance ceremony — join the Sovereign Chickamauga Cherokee Tribe

Sovereign Chickamauga Cherokee Tribe of Arkansas

Join the Tribe

ᏓᎶᏂᎨᏒ

Adanyvdo Ulisdi · "The fire still burns" · Come home to your people

If Cherokee blood runs in your family — if your ancestors walked this land before the removal, before the erasure, before the silence — this is your home. Apply for tribal membership and reclaim your place among your people.

Apply Online Now Pay $25.00 Donation Fee

✦ The Cherokee Rolls Are Open ✦

Enrollment is open now and will remain open until the tribe receives state and federal reinstatement. If you have Cherokee ancestry — do not wait. Apply today and secure your place among your people.

Membership is established through documented descent from a qualifying Cherokee ancestor who was born prior to 1870 and lived in the approved counties. Your Social Security Number will be required upon state and federal reinstatement of the tribe.

Step by Step

How to Apply

The Cherokee Rolls are open now and will remain open until the tribe receives state and federal reinstatement. Apply while enrollment is available.

Complete the Application

Fill out the Application for Citizenship including your personal information, Cherokee ancestor, and family genealogy worksheet. All information must be true and complete.

Gather Supporting Documents

Include copies of all documents linking you to your Cherokee ancestor — birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, census records, land deeds, and family Bible records.

Submit Your $25.00 Donation Fee

There is a $25.00 donation fee to apply. Pay via Cash App to $CherokeeHornet (Chief Jim Davis) or include a money order with your mailed application.

Mail Your Application

Send your completed application and all supporting documents to: The Sovereign Chickamauga Cherokee Tribe, 1791 Crow Mountain Road, Russellville, AR 72802.

What You'll Need

Full legal name (Last, First, Middle)

Date of birth, gender, and Social Security Number

Physical and mailing address

Name of Cherokee ancestor (must have been born prior to 1870 and lived in approved counties)

Family genealogy worksheet tracing lineage back to Cherokee ancestor

Copies of all supporting genealogical documents

Affidavit from oldest living relative aware of Cherokee heritage

$25.00 donation fee (required)

$25.00 Donation Fee to Apply

There is a $25.00 donation fee to apply. This supports the tribe's reinstatement effort, administrative operations, and community programs like the Arkansas River Valley Cherokee Pantry.

Pay via Cash App:

Pay $25 — $CherokeeHornet

Or include a money order payable to Sovereign Chickamauga Cherokee Tribe with your mailed application and mail your payment to:
5531 Buck Mountain Road, Dover, AR

Scan to pay

$CherokeeHornet

Apply Online

Submit Your Application Online

Fill out the form below and your application will be sent directly to the tribe. After submitting, please pay the $25.00 donation fee via Cash App $CherokeeHornet.

✓

Please fill out this application in its entirety.

Every section must be completed in order for your application to be processed. Thank you!

1Application for Citizenship

Applicant Information

Full Legal Name (Last, First, Middle) *

Date of Birth *

Gender

Social Security Number * (full number accepted — last four digits required)

You may enter your full SSN or just the last four digits. At minimum, the last four digits are required.

Tribal Registration Number (if applicable)

Mailing Address

Street Address *

City *

State *

ZIP *

Phone

Email Address *

Parent / Guardian Information (If Applicant is Under 18)

Parent/Guardian Name

Relationship to Applicant

Phone

Tribal Ancestry Information

Cherokee Ancestor Through Whom Eligibility is Claimed *

Relationship to Applicant

Documents to be Mailed with Application

Important — Documents Needed to Process Your Application

Please include your Birth Certificate and Driver's License or Government ID with your mailed application. These two documents are needed before we can begin reviewing your application. Census Records and Genealogy Records are helpful if you have them.

Birth Certificate*RequiredDriver's License or Government ID*RequiredGenealogy RecordsCensus Records

Certification

I certify that all information provided is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

2Genealogy Worksheet

Please Complete the Genealogy Section

This section is an important part of your application. In order to trace your lineage back to a Cherokee ancestor, we need as much family information as possible — especially the names, dates of birth, and places of birth for your parents and grandparents. Applications that do not include grandparent information may not be able to be processed.

Applicant

Name

Date of Birth

Place of Birth

Father

Name

Date of Birth

Place of Birth

Mother

Name

Date of Birth

Place of Birth

Grandparents

Paternal Grandfather

Name

Date of Birth

Place of Birth

Paternal Grandmother

Name

Date of Birth

Place of Birth

Maternal Grandfather

Name

Date of Birth

Place of Birth

Maternal Grandmother

Name

Date of Birth

Place of Birth

Great Grandparents

Paternal Great-Grandfather (Father's Father's Father)

Name

Date of Birth

Place of Birth

Paternal Great-Grandmother (Father's Father's Mother)

Name

Date of Birth

Place of Birth

Paternal Great-Grandfather (Father's Mother's Father)

Name

Date of Birth

Place of Birth

Paternal Great-Grandmother (Father's Mother's Mother)

Name

Date of Birth

Place of Birth

Maternal Great-Grandfather (Mother's Father's Father)

Name

Date of Birth

Place of Birth

Maternal Great-Grandmother (Mother's Father's Mother)

Name

Date of Birth

Place of Birth

Maternal Great-Grandfather (Mother's Mother's Father)

Name

Date of Birth

Place of Birth

Maternal Great-Grandmother (Mother's Mother's Mother)

Name

Date of Birth

Place of Birth

3Affidavit of Cherokee Blood

Sovereign Chickamauga Cherokee Tribe · Dardanelle, Arkansas

⚠ Mandatory Requirement

This affidavit must be completed and signed by the oldest living member of Cherokee heritage in your family. Applications submitted without this affidavit will not be processed.

⚠ Notarization Required

This affidavit must be notarized by a licensed Notary Public before mailing. An un-notarized affidavit will not be accepted. Take the printed form to your bank, UPS Store, or local courthouse for notarization.

Fill in the names below so the form is ready to print, sign, and notarize before mailing with your supporting documents.

Oldest Living Relative's Name

Applicant's Name

Cherokee Ancestor's Name

Reasons this statement is known to be true

4Authorization for Release of Information

I authorize the release of information requested by the Sovereign Chickamauga Cherokee Tribe. The requested information shall be used solely for the administration of tribal related programs.

Agencies That May Be Contacted Include:

Programs and services of the Sovereign Chickamauga Cherokee Tribe
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Indian Health Services
School Authorities
Federal, State, and Local Agencies

The Above Signature Is By:

SelfAuthorized Representative (Proof of Guardianship Required)Next of Kin

Digital Signature

By typing your full legal name below, you certify that all information provided in this application is true and correct to the best of your knowledge, and you authorize the release of information as stated above.

Type Full Legal Name to Sign *

This serves as your legal digital signature

Date *

5$25.00 Donation Fee

A $25.00 donation fee is required with your application. Select your payment method:

Cash App $CherokeeHornetMoney Order (mailed with documents)

Pay $25 via Cash App →

Mail supporting documents to: The Sovereign Chickamauga Cherokee Tribe, 1791 Crow Mountain Road, Russellville, AR 72802

Citizenship Application Packet

Print, complete, and mail all forms along with your supporting documents and $25.00 donation fee.

Sovereign Chickamauga Cherokee Tribe

Dardanelle, Arkansas

Citizenship Application Packet

· 1. Citizenship Application· 2. Genealogy Worksheet· 3. Affidavit of Cherokee Blood· 4. Authorization for Release of Information· 5. Committee Review (Tribal Use Only)

Application for Citizenship

Applicant Information

Full Legal Name (Last, First, Middle)

Date of Birth

Gender

Social Security Number (Optional)

Tribal Registration Number (if applicable)

Mailing Address

Street Address

City

State

ZIP

Phone

Parent / Guardian Information (If Applicant is Under 18)

Parent/Guardian Name

Relationship to Applicant

Phone

Tribal Ancestry Information

Cherokee Ancestor Through Whom Eligibility is Claimed

Relationship to Applicant

Documents Attached

Birth Certificate

Driver's License or Government ID

Genealogy Records

Census Records

Historical Documentation

Family Records

Genealogy Worksheet

Applicant

Name

Date of Birth

Place of Birth

Father

Name

Date of Birth

Place of Birth

Mother

Name

Date of Birth

Place of Birth

Grandparents

Paternal Grandfather

Paternal Grandmother

Maternal Grandfather

Maternal Grandmother

Great Grandparents

Paternal Great-Grandfather (Father's side)

Paternal Great-Grandmother (Father's side)

Paternal Great-Grandfather (Mother's side)

Paternal Great-Grandmother (Mother's side)

Maternal Great-Grandfather (Father's side)

Maternal Great-Grandmother (Father's side)

Maternal Great-Grandfather (Mother's side)

Maternal Great-Grandmother (Mother's side)

Affidavit of Cherokee Blood

Sovereign Chickamauga Cherokee Tribe · Dardanelle, Arkansas

I, , (Oldest Living Relative's Name)

do hereby certify that (Applicant's Name)

is a descendant of (Cherokee ancestor whose eligibility is claimed)

who is of Cherokee Blood and was living within the State/Territory of Arkansas during the 1800s.

I know this statement to be true for the following reasons:

Signature of Oldest Living Relative

Date

In witness whereof I have set unto my hand and official seal on this day of , 20.

Notary Signature

My Commission Expires

Authorization for Release of Information

Sovereign Chickamauga Cherokee Tribe · Dardanelle, Arkansas

I, , authorize the release of information requested by the Sovereign Chickamauga Cherokee Tribe.

The requested information shall be used solely for the administration of tribal related programs.

Agencies That May Be Contacted Include:

Programs and services of the Sovereign Chickamauga Cherokee Tribe
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Indian Health Services
School Authorities
Federal, State, and Local Agencies

Applicant Signature

Date

The Above Signature Is By:

Self

Authorized Representative (Proof of Guardianship Required)

Next of Kin

Relationship

Parent/Guardian Signature (if applicant is under 18)

Date

Citizenship Committee Review

— For Tribal Use Only —

Application Received Date

Application Number

Reviewer

Decision

Approved

Denied

Reason for Denial (if applicable)

Citizenship Committee Representative

Date

Registrar

Date

Enrollment Number Assigned

Sovereign Chickamauga Cherokee Tribe · Dardanelle, Arkansas · Mail completed packet to: 1791 Crow Mountain Road, Russellville, AR 72802

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Mail Your Application To

Mailing Address

The Sovereign Chickamauga Cherokee Tribe
1791 Crow Mountain Road
Russellville, AR 72802

Phone

(479) 747-7406

Principal Chief Jim Davis

[email protected]

ᏣᎳᎩ · The Language of Our People

ᏓᎶᏂᎨᏒ · Adanyvdo Ulisdi · "The fire still burns"ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯ · Aniyvwiya · "The Real People"ᏂᎦᏛᎢ · Nigadvdi · "We are still here"ᎢᎬᎾᏕᎾ · Igvnadena · "Our homeland"

Cherokee syllabary written by Sequoyah (ᏍᏏᏉᏯ), c. 1820 · Used by the Chickamauga Cherokee since the time of Dragging Canoe (ᏥᏳᎦᏂᏏᏂ), 1808

Sacred fire — the eternal flame of the Chickamauga Cherokee

"The fire is burning and there is always room at the circle."

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