Membership in East Coast Cherokees requires enrollment in the Cherokee Nation.

If an enrolled family member has joined East Coast Cherokees, other direct family members are eligible to join East Coast Cherokees as well.

There are only three federally recognized Cherokee tribes: the Cherokee Nation, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians. Each tribe has control over their enrollment criteria and their own processes for enrolling new members. Navigating claims of relation and enrollment can sometimes be a complicated process, but it is an important exercise in affirming tribal sovereignty and gaining access to the rights and benefits of Cherokee citizenship.

If you are a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and interested in joining East Coast Cherokees please fill out the Membership Application below!

Annual Dues

East Coast Cherokees requires annual dues to be renewed each year during the month of January. These dues help support the digital infrastructure for our monthly online meetings as well as assist in funding the in-person events that are held throughout the year.

Individual Dues: $10
Family Dues: $20

Students currently enrolled fulltime at an institution of higher learning may request an exemption of dues.

Please remit your dues payable to East Coast Cherokees, Inc. Send using Zelle at your bank to: Bill Anthony at president.eastcoastcherokees@gmail.com.

Mail your Check/Money Order to:

East Coast Cherokees, Inc.
73 N Grove St
Berlin, NJ 08009-9656

How do I enroll in the Cherokee Nation?

The Cherokee Nation Registration Office processes Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB), Dawes and Tribal Citizenship applications and issues CDIB, Citizenship, and Photo ID cards.

The basic criteria for CDIB/Cherokee Nation tribal citizenship is that an application must be submitted along with documents that directly connect a person to an enrolled lineal ancestor who is listed on the “Dawes Roll” Final Rolls of Citizens and Freedman of the Five Civilized Tribes.

What Does East Coast Cherokees do?

East Coast Cherokees holds monthly online membership meetings to share any news or events happening in our area or in the Cherokee Nation and to encourage community among Cherokees living in the Northeast. As an official At-Large group, we also have administrative connections available to us to make our voices heard on council or facilitate solving any issues with accessing benefits available to all Cherokee, regardless of where they live.

We also cohost in-person events with the Nation throughout the year. We recently welcomed our Chief, Deputy Chief, and At-Large councilors for an At-Large gathering . We have also coordinated with the Nation to bring Cherokee Nation ID Services, Cherokee Votes, and language and cultural education courses to the Northeast.

East Coast Cherokees Membership Application

Primary Member

First Name

Last Name

Cherokee Nation Registration Number

This number can be found on your Cherokee Nation ID card or Blue Card.

Date of Birth

YYYY

Phone

(###)

###

####

Address

Have you ever served in the U.S. Armed Forces?

Yes

If yes, are you active duty, retired, or a veteran?

Household Information

Names, Dates of Birth, and Registration Numbers of other Cherokee Nation Citizens in your household.

Names and age of any other members of your household.

Are there any special skills or knowledge that you would be willing to teach or volunteer in order to help ECC members?

Were you referred to East Coast Cherokees? If so, by whom?

My family has always said we’re Cherokee, can I become a member?

Membership in East Coast Cherokees is only open to enrolled citizens of the Cherokee Nation.

Family history is an important starting point on the path to enrollment in the Cherokee Nation. The Cherokee Nation Research Center has a variety of resources available to aid in researching your family’s history and to document the necessary relationship to ancestors who signed the Dawes Rolls.