TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA — Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker and other tribal leaders are hosting a luncheon and offering new tribal citizenship photo IDs to Cherokee citizens living in Portland, Oregon, and Tacoma, Washington, this weekend.
With 4,349 Cherokee Nation citizens living in Oregon and 4,709 in Washington, it’s important to meet with Cherokee citizens living outside of Oklahoma about tribal issues and programs, as well as offer some of the same benefits as tribal citizens living in Oklahoma have, such as photo ID citizenship cards, Chief Baker said.
Principal Chief Baker will host the community meeting and luncheon, where citizens can obtain a photo ID. Photo IDs are only issued to Cherokee Nation citizens who are already registered with the tribe.
“Producing a government-issued, photo ID helps to instill a greater sense of pride in our people, and we’re happy to bring this service to our Cherokees living outside of Oklahoma,” Baker said. “I’ve presented my photo tribal citizenship card at several major airports, and even to the U.S. Secret Service, and experienced no problems whatsoever.”
Since October 2012, Cherokee Nation’s registration department has issued more than 44,000 of the upgraded citizenship “blue cards” in Oklahoma and 11 other states, as well as Washington, D.C.
The tribe’s upgraded photo ID citizenship cards are similar in appearance to a driver’s license. It features the citizen’s Cherokee Nation registration number, official registrar signature, citizen’s photo and signature, Principal Chief’s signature, and a distinctive Cherokee Nation hologram seal for validation. Citizens can opt for their official Bureau of Indian Affairs Certificate Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) on the back of the card.
For more information, contact Tammy Keeter-Miller at 918-207-4950 or the Cherokee Nation registration department at 918-458-6980 or registration@cherokee.org.
The community meeting, luncheon and photo ID event will be held at the following times and locations:
Portland, Oregon Saturday, Aug. 16 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
NAYA Family Center
5135 NE Columbia Blvd.
Tacoma, Washington Sunday, Aug. 17 1 to 5 p.m.
People’s Center
1602 MLK Way
The post Cherokee Nation Hosts Community Meetings in Portland, Oregon & Tacoma, Washington This Weekend appeared first on Native News Online.