Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB): What It Is
A Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB), also called a Certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaska Native Blood, is a document that records a person's degree of Indian blood based on documented descent from an ancestor on official tribal rolls. It is separate from tribal membership, which each tribe decides.
What vital record do you need?
Choose your certificate to start your order.
Who issues it
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) says tribal government personnel, usually an enrollment clerk at a regional or agency office, process CDIB applications for anyone who documents descent from an American Indian tribe. The BIA publishes a CDIB application form (OMB control number 1076-0153) with instructions.
What you must show
To apply, the BIA says you must show a direct line of descent from an ancestor listed with a degree of Indian blood on official tribal rolls. That line can run through yourself, a parent, a grandparent or a great-grandparent. Aunts, uncles and cousins do not qualify as the link. Birth and death certificates from state vital records offices are used to establish each connection.
Where a CDIB is used
The BIA page links CDIB applications to Indian Preference in Employment (BIA Form 4432). Other uses depend on the program or tribe that asks for it. The BIA also notes that tribal enrollment is a separate decision made by each tribe.
Frequently asked questions
Is a CDIB the same as a tribal membership card?
No. The BIA says tribes decide their own membership. A CDIB documents descent and degree of blood.
Do I need certified birth records to apply?
The BIA says birth and death certificates from state vital records offices establish the link between generations. Ask the office handling your application which versions it accepts.
Can a cousin or aunt be my qualifying ancestor?
No. The BIA says aunts, uncles and cousins do not qualify.
Sources
US Records is a private company and is not a government agency. Government agencies issue certified records; we help you order them.
Written By
US Records TeamThe US Records Team writes and reviews guides on birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates, using state statutes, agency instructions and court records as sources.
Most popular definitions
- Birth Certificate Number: What It Is and What the Digits Mean
- Adoption Birth Certificate: The New Certificate Issued After Adoption
- Affidavit of Birth: A Sworn Statement Used to Establish a Birth
- Amended Birth Certificate: What It Is and How It Appears
- Apostille: What It Is and When You Need One
- Authentication Certificate: Preparing U.S. Documents for Non-Hague Countries
- Authorized Requester: Who Can Order a Certified Vital Record
- Beneficiary: Who Receives Insurance, Accounts or an Estate
Recent definitions
- Adoption Birth Certificate: The New Certificate Issued After Adoption
- Affidavit of Birth: A Sworn Statement Used to Establish a Birth
- Amended Birth Certificate: What It Is and How It Appears
- Apostille: What It Is and When You Need One
- Authentication Certificate: Preparing U.S. Documents for Non-Hague Countries