<p>I am part Native American, enough so that my grandma grew up on a reservation (which is actually just a small town) and I go back and visit frequently, I will be there next week. I do not have a tribe number, which is fine. Most people who are part Native American do not have a tribe number. And other than the fact that I do not grow hair in some areas, areas no one should be looking at, and my build and face shape, no one would guess that I am part Native American. My coloring is more like that of my French great grandparents.</p>
<p>On my other side, I definitely could be in the Daughter's of the Revolution, and apparently, a couple of my cousins have joined. </p>
<p>I am wondering if I should get a tribal card, which I already knew I am eligible for, and/or join the Daughter's of the Revolution? Today, someone told me (an older person, her children are grown and already went to college) that her children had their tribal cards and it helped a lot.</p>
<p>edited: turns out that I cannot get a tribal card because the tribe my great grandmother was in requires that anyone having a card be 1/4 blood. I am not. Should I ever list that I am part Native American when they ask race? Or not because of the fact that I am not eligible for the card?</p>
<p>My kids are in the same position. We have documentation from a tribe whose lineage keeper attested to our family line. However, we cannot get a card of membership because our actual tribe was wiped out by smallpox, warfare, and by the Paxton Boys. The only surviving members married into European American families. We are also DAR eligible–my sister got her DAR membership but it’s too conservative for my tastes. As of the last census, 2010, we were allowed to mark whatever ethnic groups we identify with. I marked us as Native American for the first time and then had my children’s records in the school system officially changed to reflect this status–finally we were legally able to mark our important heritage. Also, I work at an Ivy institution and there is a tribal group there that I’ve participated in . I’m not anything like those people in terms of culture any more. On the other hand, you often have a feeling esp. for East Coast Tribes that the genocide was so complete that they are recreating their cultures too. My feeling is that if identifying yourself as Native is done because it honors your ancestors and identity, then it’s okay. But if it’s done just to get some special benefit of admissions, then it’s not okay–and I say that because this is what some people feel it may do, that native status confers advantage. I am weighing what to do. It’s just a little box to check, but it has so much history behind it. Being acknowledged officially as who you actually are is important. I have always found it frustrating that I cannot state outright that I too am Native American because of some weird rule that either the government comes up with at a given moment or a tribe, and they can change the rules at whim, while I have no control over this. Now the US census allows you to mark your native heritage, then it must be okay on this application. I was thinking that we could provide a statement of explanation, summarizing the above hsitory, for the committees and then let them decide if we qualify or not. You see, we are in a bind, because our tribe was completely decimated rather than just partly decimated. You are punished by the tribe being gone and then you’re in a Catch 22 because you cannot claim tribal affiliation. </p>
<p>It seems a little silly to invoke the one-drop rule for some races and ethnicities in the US but not for all of them. </p>
<p>Race is self identified on the college applications form. You may mark how you identify or even multiple categories, I believe. If my grandmother grew up on a reservation and I visit there I would mark it and Caucasian as they both seem to apply. If college have any special requirements of ‘proof’ needed for that to help you they will inquire and at that time you can explain your connection. DAR is not anything recognized by colleges that I have ever heard.</p>
<p>Each NA tribe defines what it considers for “true membership” Unfortunately your lineage is too far to qualify. You can mark NA but there is a great chance the school will just not consider it. And I agree DAR isn’t going to do anything for you.</p>
<p>My DS applied to 4 Ivies and MIT (we are from Canada) and I (DS’ mother) finally got my status/registration card 2 years ago, which is no easy accomplishment as the Federal government and not the First Nations decide who is eligible. There are a great deal of benefits that are provided to status Indians including free education, free drugs, etc. hence the Feds wanting to control who is in. I never visited my First Nation, nor my mother who is also a member, as it is in another province from ours. There is a long history of nastiness which included my grandmother living at a Residential School.</p>
<p>DS ticked the box self identifying. Dartmouth and Yale followed up with a 1 page form as well as giving the opportunity to explain DSs Indian/Aboriginal heritage including actual documentation which he did, including a copy of my status card, copy of DS long birth certificate (as we have different last names) proving I am his mother, and an explanation that DS applied for his status as well.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>However, Native American is a special case in that many colleges do want to see documentation such as tribal enrollment. Check each college’s instructions for details.</p>