The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria in California adopted a constitution in January that makes it harder for the tribe to remove people from the rolls.

People can be removed if they were enrolled by mistake or through fraud. But the constitution imposes a three year statue of limitations.

The tribal council can suspend members for infractions. But their descendants remain eligible for enrollment.

Finally, the tribal council can't change disenrollment laws without the approval of two-thirds of the general council. The general council is composed of all adult members of the tribe.

“We saw the changes coming. We saw the challenges and we said, 'Let's do something that could prohibit disenrollments in our tribe,'" Chairman Greg Sarris told The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat.

The tribe has about 1,300 members, the paper said.

Get the Story:
Graton Rancheria's disenrollment rules defy trend (The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat 4/5)
Graton Rancheria tribe's growth likely limited (The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat 4/5)