Legal Question in Native American Law in South Dakota

Re: Indian blood heritage

If you know his full name, there are two, maybe three, possible approaches.

The first is that certain family names may suggest particular tribes or clans to a good historian. For example, someone named "Yazzie" or "Benally" is for sure a Navajo. Maybe start by searching Google using the family name and "South Dakota" and "tribe" as search terms. Then ask at South Dakota history sites.

Second idea is to contact the tribal membership registrars of some of the larger tribes by phone, mail, or e-mail to ask whether they have any record of the name or whether they associate that family name with their tribe or another tribe.

Third idea would be to search public records (non-tribal, county records) for his name on a birth certificate. Maybe Indian Health Service records would show a birth record for you.

If the family name is common and you don't have any idea where you were born, the search may be difficult. Some tribal administrations are more helpful than others; many of them have been deluged with questionable attempts to "prove" eligibility for tribal membership and benefits and aren't as eager or able to help as others may be.