Why are the Cherokee Indians white?
The reason why many Cherokee people are fair skinned is because the majority of their heritage is nonCherokee. Due to many things (early contact/assimilation, Trail of Tears, etc.) there are many ‘mixed blood’ Cherokees. However, since the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma accepts ANYONE who can prove they have at least one ancestor on the by blood section of the Dawes Rolls, many with low blood quantums (loosely defined as 1/16 or less) are enrolled citizens of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. There are even enrolled CNO citizens with Cherokee blood quantums of 1/1024 and lower, meaning out of 1024 great great great great great great great great (that’s 8 greats) grandparents, ONE was Cherokee and listed on the Dawes Rolls and 1023 were not Cherokee. However, all that matters to Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma is that ONE. If you have that ONE, you’re Cherokee according to them. Since each tribe sets its own citizenship requirements, if Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma accepts you as one of their ow
