If you believe you are Native American and want to enroll in your tribe but feel lost due to being adopted, I’m here to help.
I’ve been through the journey of unsealing my adoption records and reconnecting with my tribe. Now, I’m sharing the steps and legal resources that guided me, in hopes of helping other Natives find their way home.
When adopted, your birth records are sealed for privacy. However, if you can show you may be Native American, a judge can access those records and give you a copy of your original birth certificate, enabling you to enroll in your tribe.
Several online resources, like Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, and MyHeritage.com, provide access to various genealogical records, including census, military, and immigration records, to help you trace your ancestry.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs requires genealogical documentation to establish descent from a Native American tribe for membership. This documentation must show that the individual directly descends from an ancestor who was a member of the federally recognized tribe.
