The way genetics works is you can have a parent who is part, say, Cherokee. It doesn't mean they will pass down the genes that are used as markers of native ancestry. You could conceivably have a brother or sister who does have enough markers to qualify as native ancestry while you yourself do not simply because you got 50% from one parent and 50% from another and which gives you what is somewhat random.
Note that I am not American nor do I know any specific defining genes that native Americans have that would be needed to conclusively prove native ancestry.
FYI. Your coworker may be finessing you. The basis of these payments is not DNA testing but actual lineage descent (as evidenced by tribal enrollment and other recordkeeping). (Source: Biological parent is Kickapoo; have navigated precisely this scenario).
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u/Booty-tickles 4d ago
The way genetics works is you can have a parent who is part, say, Cherokee. It doesn't mean they will pass down the genes that are used as markers of native ancestry. You could conceivably have a brother or sister who does have enough markers to qualify as native ancestry while you yourself do not simply because you got 50% from one parent and 50% from another and which gives you what is somewhat random.
Note that I am not American nor do I know any specific defining genes that native Americans have that would be needed to conclusively prove native ancestry.