'Blood Quantum Earrings' by jeweler Kristen Dorsey, from kristendorseydesigns.com/blood-quantum-earrings

What Percentage Indian Do You Have to Be in Order to Be a Member of a Tribe or Nation?

Sonny Skyhawk
January 17, 2012

Tribal Nations are the only recognized arbiter of belonging to or being a member of a tribe. No other agency or arm of any government has that responsibility, other than the particular tribe to which a person claims to belong.

Every tribe has its own membership criteria; some go on blood quantum, others on descent, but whatever the criteria it is the tribe’s enrollment office that has final say on whether a person may be a member. Anyone can claim Indian heritage, but only the tribe can grant official membership.

Aho.

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terrypowless's picture
terrypowless
Submitted by terrypowless on
the grand purpose is to prepare the focus to keep alive. then we will return to the old ways when everyone was welcome.

Anonymous's picture
Anonymous
Submitted by Anonymous on

my grandmother was half cherokee,here lately i heard of people digging up arrow heads suppose to have found skelton remains,is it legal in kentucky for these places to be tresspassed against,its part of my hertigage can anything be done for this place to not be disturbed,it concerns me greatly thank you,if you can email me at morrisjoann63@yahoo.com,would also like to know more about my bloodline

Anonymous's picture
Anonymous
Submitted by Anonymous on

My Great Grandmotherwas 100% Cherokee. Her name was Crecy. She married an Irishman named Eddie McFarlin. We can't get back any farther than that. I wish so badly I would have taken more of an interest while my Grandmother was alive. I would love to sit with her now with pen and paper. She asked me once if I had ever read "Trail of Tears", which I hadn't. I read it after her death and was infuriated. My sister and I have tried for to years to find out more about Crecy. We were told, by an Auntie, they(Crecy & Eddie) owned a store in Texas. We couldn't find it. My Auntie, whom I dearly loved & love still, has walked on, since she told us. How would we search this more? Don't know where to begin anymore. We know Crecy was born in Memphis in 1860, buried in Bonham County, Texas. Thank you for your help.

Leroy carman's picture
Leroy carman
Submitted by Leroy carman on

I am most likely just an ignorant caucasian. So please excuse my ignorance. My wife was reading a book about a woman that was born into the "Scientology" relegion. The author stated one of thier compounds was located next to a reservation perhaps in southern California. Inhabited by the Sobota Indians. We have never heard of this tribe any input from someone that has the time to share please leave a post and I will fwd an email addy. thank you so very much.

editors's picture
editors
Submitted by editors on

@Michelle Moore:

You can start tracing your ancestry back using something like Ancestry.com, Genealogy.com or FamilySearch.org or find a genealogist willing to help with the search, professionals are listed by specialty including Native American at ApGen.org.

chahta ohoyo's picture
chahta ohoyo
Submitted by chahta ohoyo on

it isnt that simple...the BIA also has a hand to a certain degree of granting tribal membership...

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