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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2002

"Who is a Native and who is not has been a question the bureaucracy has kicked from pillar to post for more than 100 years. The Bureau of Indian Affairs believes it has finally found the answer.

Let us make a distinction here before we proceed. The BIA has almost always used a blood degree of one-fourth when determining the allocation of money for health, education, housing, land disputes, etc. This determination of who is Native clearly comes under the umbrella of funds disbursed by this federal agency. However, if a person is less than one-fourth blood degree but can prove membership in a federally recognized tribe, the one-fourth standard is often waived.

Federally recognized Native tribes set their own blood quantum standards in determining who is a member of their tribe. Some tribes set the blood quantum at one-fourth or more, just as the BIA does, and others like the Ute Tribe of Utah set their degree at one-half or more. . ."

Get the Story:
TIM GIAGO COLUMN: Who is a Native and who is not? (Lakota Media Inc. 11/14)