Hello, I was talking with a high school senior today that is interested in documenting his heritage for potential college scholarships or tuition breaks. Is there a clear cut way to do this. Thanks. Hille
The requirements and available records vary from tribe to tribe. The best place to start is with the tribal headquarters.
There is a huge advantage - if you are 1/16 DOCUMENTED American Indian, you will be able to get full tuition reimbursement to any public school in the US. Two of my cousins have done it. You can first go to the tribe (if you know it), if not check websites on your family tree. You have to show first that there is a person in your heritage thatis registered (which MANY MANY did not), they how you are related (birth records, marriage certificates, etc.). I am, but it isn't documented (I could show 1/32 documented, but the other was not registered). It is a long a difficult process, but in the end worth it, if you know your relatives were registered.
Soon genetic testing will tell us exactly what our "heritage" is. I know that I am 100% peasant, 0% Carpathian.
