Quite often we get e-mail inquiries about genealogy from people all over the United States. Many of the messages say things like, "I was told by my grandparents that we have Choctaw blood. Their names were [name] and they lived all their lives in Texas or Oklahoma. Would you look them up and see if I am part Choctaw or Cherokee?"

It would be nice if there was a master roll of everyone who has any degree of Choctaw or Cherokee blood, but there is not. Our data here only goes back in time to our own ancestors, who, on their forced exodus from Mississippi and Alabama, were living in Texas after 1835.

In order to be enrolled on our official tribal roll, your ancestors by blood would have had to have been listed on Texas Census records (Canton Beat in Smith County, London Precinct or Henderson Precinct 1 in Rusk County near the town of Overton) between 1850 and 1920. You would further have to had maintained contact with the community and be regarded as a part of the community to present day. Even if you no longer lived in the area, you would have to demonstrate that you still have continued community contact. Community descendants by blood who are members of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma are also not eligible. These requirements are set forth by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and follow THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, PART 83 - PROCEDURES FOR ESTABLISHING THAT AN AMERICAN INDIAN GROUP EXISTS AS AN INDIAN TRIBE.

We are sorry that we cannot be of help to many of you who might have Choctaw blood, but we do not have the resources of which to look for your ancestors' names. We can only suggest you do regular genealogical research through the libraries, the Choctaw Nation, Oklahoma Historical Society and Federal Census records. Good luck on your quest.