[Rehab] BIA Indian Lineage Site

[Kyle Kiper (ARS)]

Happy Holidays Folks!

I pieced this post together, from a conversation I have been having today, with several Vocational Rehabilitation colleagues here in Arkansas. I thought some of my Federation family, who either have kids to educate yourselves or who work with individuals who may be attempting to avail themselves to any possible additional educational funding channels, may find it interesting. It's quite obvious, that I am experiencing "Acute Only State Employee in the Building Syndrome today! Ha!

Over the last couple of years, several of you have conversed with me on how one tracks their Indian lineage, and enrolls within a tribe. I have also spoke about this, to dozens of our High School Students. As a bonus, for marrying a Choctaw almost 25 years ago, I have had a lot of experience, helping her extended family members document their bona fides and obtain a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB.) This has opened up tons of opportunities, for family, to utilize tribal services, including the Indian Health Service and Educational Benefits. Family members have attended Haskell Indian Nations University(www.haskell.edu<http://www.haskell.edu>), in Lawrence, Kansas, which is 100% covered, including housing, tuition, books, meals, etc. Others have earned scholarships to other universities.

So, I just thought I would share this link, to the Bureau of Indian Affairs page on documenting Indian lineage. I hope this helps someone out there. Tribes want members, numbers help them gain political pull and grow their communities. Plus, if someone can do their part, and obtain tribal membership, their children's education may be partially or entirely funded.

https://www.bia.gov/guide/tracing-american-indian-and-alaska-native-aian-ancestry

Something I forgot to mention, is that with Ancestry and the other DNA matching programs out there, it may be much easier to prove one's tribal link, as any of us may have cousins out there, which the program will link by DNA, who may have already worked this whole thing out, and may have the documentation right there, linking both of you back to the same ancestor. For years, I have tried to remember to tell clients, upon intake, about this, as there may be any kind of link, no matter what ethnicity we think we are. We only typically know the family story of our bloodline, but, as Uncle Paul Harvey used to say, there may be "The Rest of the Story." Ha!

Cheers,
Kyle

Kyle Ryan Kiper, M.A., CRC
Certified Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS)

State of Arkansas
Department of Commerce
Division of Workforce Services
Arkansas Rehabilitation Services
Fort Smith District IV
Booneville Field Office

1812 East Main Street
Booneville, Arkansas 72927
479.675.3835
Kyle.kiper at arkansas.gov<mailto:Kyle.kiper at arkansas.gov>