<p>I MAY apply to Yale SCEA, its either Yale or Stanford but I will apply RD if not REA.</p>
<p>I am a Native American but I don't have tribal affilations here is the story:</p>
<p>So the father of my grandfather (mom's side) and his mother were both Native Americans in Kenya, Africa and they made my Grandpa who is obviously Native American as well and he married a British lady they made my mom who is born in Kenya as well, who is then 1/2 Native American and they stayed in Africa for a while and then they moved to England for better job oppertunities and his wife's family was there, but then my mom married my dad who is from India (ORM) and out I came. So therefore I am 1/4 (I thought it was 1/16 but I was corrected in Yale forum) Native American but the problem is I don't have tribal affiliation documents. </p>
<p>I know when you apply to Yale and you apply as a Native American they send you Ethnicity Verification papers asking for your tribal I.D. # and such, and I dont have any of that. I asked my parents to enroll me in the Blackfoot tribe but my dad has no idea about it and he didn't know sh** so I asked my mom who told me her father never wanted to be apart of the tribe because of the harsh criticism and rudeness he would face at work and my mom faced while she was in school one of the reasons she eventually dropped out my dad did the same so I am first gen as well</p>
<p>Does Stanford also send you verification papers as well?</p>
<p>Stanford will send you a form for you to provide proof, as well. They send the same form to all of the Native (American, Hawaiian, and Alaskan) applicants. I’m sorry I can’t offer advice, we are Native Hawaiian and there is no tribal process. Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>Sorry I cannot edit I am posting from iPhone and I don’t have that option… Anyways I would register for the Blackfoot nation tribe and I read the requirements needed and you have to be 18, if you are under you need parental consent and I an 17 turning 18 September 13 2011 and my parents refuse to give me consent so I cannot register. I really want to register so I can learn more about who I really am. </p>
<p>The Native American heritage forms I’ve seen have been fairly similar. Typically they ask for tribal affiliation and for you to provide your enrollment number if you are enrolled. Stanford asks for blood degree. Generally they ask if your school has a counselor for Native American students and that person’s contact info if there is one. They may ask if you’re affiliated with a BIA office or any Native American organizations. They usually provide space for you to explain anything about your background you would like them to know, so you would be able to explain your family heritage. </p>
<p>Since you can’t control getting enrolled at this point, my advice to you is to concentrate on what you do control with regards to your application. Be a great student for whom teachers can write enthusiastic recommendations. If you are still in the process of taking standardized tests, study for them and do well. Start your essays early so you can give yourself lots of time to edit them. Be involved and do well with your extracurricular activities.</p>
<p>I took Feb ACT and it identified me as a Native as well, my transcript identifies me as a Native as well, and when my McDonalds job application identifies me as a Native, I have always identified myself as a Native American but I dont have that stupid paper containing that stupid number to show colleges that I am a Native American.</p>
<p>I don’t think you are going to get much credit for being a Native American if no one in your family has had any meaningful contact with any Native American community in the past three generations. At least until 9 months before you apply to colleges. A quarter Indian blood is clearly enough to qualify you for tribal membership, provided that you actually have some connection with the tribe and its communal experience. I don’t know enough tribal law – and I know enough to know that it varies from tribe to tribe – but I suspect you are not going to be welcomed as a tribal enrollee.</p>
<p>Look, your grandfather and your mother turned their backs on their Native American identity, and it looks like your great-grandparents were running away from it, too (otherwise, what were they doing in Kenya?). I’m sure you’re curious about their background, but have a little spine, and a little respect for your ancestors, and don’t sell out their deliberate choices to get yourself a teeny, and probably nonexistent, college admissions advantage. You could write a great essay about why your forebears did what they did, and what you learned about their background, but don’t cheapen yourself and them by claiming to be something you clearly aren’t.</p>
<p>They were in Kenya because of the constant criticism he faced. He told me stories about when he worked in a chocolate factory, he used to go to lunch and everyone just got up and left, one of his white friends told him because he was Native American and he was always teased about it. My mom was always teased about it as well when she was in school, and they couldn’t take all of that criticism. Before my grandpa died my mom was at his side on his death bed he told her to never register us as Natives but I want to know more about the culture. I have saved up money and flown out to see pow wows it is really an amazing sight.</p>
<p>JeffMahel,
Yes, we are URM. We provided our genealogy back six generations to Stanford. I would check with Admissions. Maybe they can advise you.</p>
<p>It wouldn’t surprise me at all if there were blood tests that could be done to prove your claim to native American ancestry… try some of the genealogy sites. (or a geneticist at Stanford) :)</p>