Members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina will soon be receiving per capita payments as their share of more than $1.8 million awarded to the Band by the Indian Claims Commission in 1972. Tribal officials are concerned, however, that the present address of a significant number of Tribal members is not known and that some individuals eligible for enrollment have not made application to be included in the membership.
Enrollment in the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is based primarily on the Act of June 4, 1924, (43 Stat. 376). Since the roll based on this act was prepared, many of the individuals have left the immediate Ii area and have had no further contact with the Tribe. In order for these persons to share in the payment, they will need to advise the Cherokee Tribal Enrollment Office of their whereabouts.
Similarly, some persons eligible for enrollment as a result of being a descendent of individuals on the 1924 roll, and otherwise qualified, have never applied for enrollment. These individuals now have until January 8, 1975 to apply for membership if they are to share in the per capita distribution. Many of the persons in both of the above groups are believed to be residing in Western North Carolina, Eastern Tennessee, or Northern Georgia.
Regulations governing the updating of the membership roll have been published in the Federal Register under the authority granted to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Morris Thompson.
Any individual may obtain an enrollment application form from the Tribal Enrollment Office of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Council House, Cherokee, North Carolina 27819.
