General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: This message was self-deleted by its author [View all]yellerpup
(12,253 posts)The Dawes Roll (1894-1907) was the only census taken where one had to declare one's degree of tribal blood. It facilitated the confiscation of over 800M acres of Indigenous land. If you have an ancestor (and can prove it) whose name appears on those rolls, then you are eligible to join the Cherokee tribe. Period.
Many families did not sign up, and they were known as Dawes Resisters. Why would they not sign up for 'free land'? Because the land already belonged to them! Acreage had already been set aside (they had no choice in the selection of where) for them as long as the sun will shine. Other reasons: Distrust of the Federal Government; families who could 'pass for white' denied Native ancestry; families who were intermixed with blacks knew they would be separated out as Freedmen whether they were born free or not.
So there are lots of descendants who have stories like that of Elizabeth Warren.