In a message dated 1/13/2003 4:40:54 PM Pacific Standard Time, [email protected] writes: > A survey showed that a large percentage of Americans claim Cherokee > heritage. Lots of people get into genealogy because they thing there are > benefits and a pot of gold at the end of the line. > Unless your people are on the Dawes Rolls you are not legally Indian. You > might have full blood Indian Heritage, but you will most likely not ever be > > legally a Cherokee. > A great lady explained it to me this way. > You had to live in Indian Territory and register with the Dawes Commission > to be a tribal member. If you left the Territory it was the equivalent of a > > German leaving his country and emigrating to the US, a foreign country.He > was > no longer eligible for German benefits. > Hope this helps, and if anyone can explain it better or if I am wrong, > please correct me.Leona Hello Leona. I am registered with the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma. My Grandfathers folks are on the Dawes Rolls. I get medical benifits even though I am NOT living in Oklahoma. I live in Oregon and have never been to Oklahoma. My sons and I get Medical, dental and optical care at the Warm Springs Indian Reservation here in Oregon. I can also go to any Federally recongized reservation and get medical treatment. That is the only thing I am qualified for not living in the Cherokee Nation. I do want to move there ASAP. Rebecca