This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Viars, Rakes, Zerbe, Sweigart, Akers and others Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/2BC.2ACI/826.1 Message Board Post: Ok what you are asking is a difficult thing to address... It has many exeptions and ways to go in this situation. I am Native American & this is how it works... basically with out making you nuts... If you were any kind of native ( of any tribe) and it would vary between tribes you were not "forced" to go on any rolls. So you would have had to "sign up" for them. If your ancestor did not sign up then you will not find them on any rolls. Many natives from the time they started this roll thing did not want anything to do with them. Basically at least for the Cherokee's in most part you got a small crappy piece of land for signing onto the rolls. Rolls are the basis of tribal enrollment these days. So if your(your ancestor) is not on a specific tribes roll of thier choice you cannot be enrolled. That does not mean you are not indian it means that( though many immature people will say that) it means that that you are not "recognized" and you cannot recieve any govenrment benefits from the tribe. I have a very bitter feeling towards enrollment for the fact it creates a second class citizenship amoung each other with in a tribe. Be it that you are full blood or mixed blood. a good site to reaserch native genealogy on (and NAtive genealogy is HUGELY complicated) is http://accessgenealogy.com/native/ Hope this helps, email me if you need more info Tabitha