The Nooksack Tribe of Washington has tightened its membership criteria in an election that was supervised by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Membership is restricted to descendants of people who were granted allotments and descendants of people who appeared on a 1942 roll. Previously, the tribe allowed anyone with Nooksack blood to enroll so the change will make it harder for newer citizens.

The tribe is in the process of removing 306 people whose ancestor did not appear on the 1942 roll.

Get the Story:
Nooksack tribal voters approve tightening of membership rule (The Bellingham Herald 6/27)

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