The appellate court of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan issued a ruling on a membership dispute.

Dennis Tappen, Angela Ayling and Skykur Graveratte applied for membership. They were born to members of the tribe who had at least one-half degree of Indian blood but their applications were rejected, their attorney said.

"The Tribe had previously taken the position it would not honor its own Tribal blood quantum certifications," attorney Paula Fisher told The Mt. Pleasant Morning Sun.

The court ruled that the tribe must consider other types of evidence in order to determine whether someone meets the blood quantum requirements. A spokesperson said the decision will increase administrative burdens on the tribal enrollment office.

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Mt. Pleasant attorney satisfied with Tribal Court ruling (The Mt. Pleasant Morning Sun 8/24)