Tribal Membership

Tribal Membership

We assist applicants in becoming enrolled as Tribal Citizens in several federally-recognized Tribes.

We currently contract with 27 Tribes within Alaska’s Interior region. For those Tribes only, we manage and store the Tribe’s membership documents, and we process and submit applications to the Tribe on behalf of prospective enrollees.

For citizens of those 27 contracting Tribes, we also provide Tribal Membership Photo ID Cards.

CONTACT US:

907-452-8251 ext. 3274 or 3229
Send A Message

HOURS

8:00am-5:00pm
Monday-Friday

LOCATION

Chief Peter John Tribal Building
122 1st Ave
Fairbanks, AK 99701

Tribal Membership Documents & Info

If you descend from one of the following Tribes, you may apply for formal citizenship/membership, to that Tribe, through TCC’s Tribal Enrollment Program.

  • Alatna Village
  • Allakaket Village
  • Anvik Village
  • Beaver Village
  • Birch Creek Tribe
  • Circle Native Community
  • Native Village of Eagle
  • Evansville Village
  • Organized Village of Grayling
  • Healy Lake Village
  • Holy Cross Tribe
  • Hughes Village
  • Huslia Village
  • Village of Kaltag
  • Koyukuk Native Village
  • Manley Hot Springs Village
  • Native Village of Minto
  • Nenana Native Association
  • Nikolai Village
  • Northway Village
  • Rampart Village
  • Native Village of Ruby
  • Shageluk Native Village
  • Native Village of Stevens
  • Native Village of Tanacross
  • Telida Village
  • Native Village of Tetlin

Frequently Asked Questions

T.C.C.’s Tribal Enrollment Program issues Tribal ID cards that show the cardholder is a member of a federally-recognized Tribe, which results in them being eligible for more tribal trust services than the B.I.A. CDIB card/document would.

  • Being a formally-enrolled member of a federally-recognized Tribe may result in being eligible for tribal trust services, including Indian Health Services outside the State of Alaska.
  • There are other valuable tribal trust services that are allocated to Tribes, and Tribal Organizations, on behalf of the U.S. Department of Interior, specifically for tribal citizens/members.
  • All trust services require proof of citizenship to a federally-recognized tribe.

If you are a lineal descendant of a Tribe you may be eligible to apply.

(HINT: Many Alaskan Tribes’ names are the name as their village/community name. Knowing your parents and grandparents names and dates of births are helpful if you know you are not enrolled already, and are ready to apply)

Yes, it is quite easy and unfortunately all too common. Here is why:

  • They are registered with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and have a document or ID card that certifies their degree of Indian blood. The BIA is not a Tribe. A BIA card can be used to provide proof of native descent only.
  • They are enrolled with Doyon or one of the 12 other ANCSA corporations in Alaska. ANCSA Corporations are not Tribes. Being enrolled to a corporation make the person a shareholder in the corporation.
  • They are enrolled with their village corporation, like Gana-a’yoo, BOYK, Toghotthele, Dinyea Corp., or even Tanacross Inc. (which is different from the federally-recognized Tribe: the Native Village of Tanacross). Village Corporations are not Tribes either. Being enrolled to a village corporation also makes the person a shareholder in their corporation.
  • The B.I.A., Doyon, and village corporations, all have applications that resemble one another since they request a family tree and a certified birth certificate. They do not replace the Tribal Enrollment Application to be a citizen/member of a Tribe.
  • In their childhood, the Tribe stepped in to act on the child’s behalf. Within some Tribe’s laws, a child who is a lineal descendant is still under the Tribe’s protection. However, for the child to receive a Tribal Membership Card or, should the child turn the age of 18, they will still need to formally apply for Tribal citizenship.

What Happens When A Person Submits An Application and Certified Birth Certificate To TCC Tribal Enrollment?

  1. TCC makes copies of original documents and stamps then signs the copies, certifying the documents as originals.
  2. TCC will mail originals back to the applicant’s provided mailing address, via Certified Priority Mail, if the documents were not provided in person.
  3. If the applicant did not provide original documents, instead sending copied versions, TCC will reject the copies and mail out a letter requesting original documents. Sending copied versions of documents delays the enrollment process.
  4. TCC will research your lineage and eligibility, if we lack documentation on the applicant’s ancestral lineage, we may request more information. This may cause a delay.
  5. TCC will then send the application to the Tribe that the applicant requested for citizenship/membership.
  6. TCC must wait while the Tribe’s governing body, the Tribal Council meets and votes on the citizen/membership application at a scheduled tribal council meeting.
  7. The Tribe will send a resolution back to TCC Tribal Enrollment that either approves or denies the membership application.
  8. Upon receiving an approved resolution. TCC staff can begin the steps describe at the top of this page regarding issuing a tribal ID. An approval letter with a Tribal ID will be follow in the mail and/or be available for pick up at a scheduled time.
  9. Upon receiving a denying resolution, TCC staff will send a letter with the decision and informing you of any possible appeal process the Tribe may have. Note: All Tribes have exclusive and sovereign authority on their citizen/membership rules and whether they have an appeal process, TCC is not involved in the decision of citizen/membership or the enforcement of tribal laws, that authority lies solely with the Tribal Government.

ATTN: There have been delays in Tribal Governments meeting to approve membership applications. Many Tribes have decreased their regular meeting times due to the Pandemic and practicing social distancing. Please be patient during these trying times.

  • The person is a citizen/member of one of the 27 Tribes listed above, and
  • Either TCC Tribal Enrollment or the Tribe, have a completed application for the citizen/member on file, and
  • The Tribe wrote a resolution approving the citizen’s/member’s membership, or the citizen/member is listed on the original tribal base roll as recognized by the Tribe’s constitution.

NOTE: Upon receiving a Tribal ID request, Tribal Enrollment can have the tribal ID card ready for pickup or shipped in the mail, within 48 hours of receipt of identity verification and photographs. (However, if the member’s info is not current or does not meet the above criteria for being provided an ID, it will take 7+ days depending on the circumstances, i.e. name change, add a father to application, blood quantum correction, etc., provided you are a member of one of the 27 Tribes listed above.)

  • If TCC or the Tribe have no records for citizen/member, the individual will be required to complete the Tribal Enrollment Application Packet and bring in or mail in their authentic certified birth certificate.
  • TCC will process the application and forward onto the Tribe for approval. The Tribal Council must approve tribal citizenship/membership and provide a resolution to TCC Tribal Enrollment prior to TCC issuing a tribal ID card. This may take 7+ days (Note: Tribes regularly only hold one meeting per month.)