White Mountain Apache Tribe to vote on lowering blood quantum

Tuesday, June 7, 2016  

Members of the White Mountain Apache Tribe of Arizona will vote on lowering the blood quantum standard for enrollment.

According to the constitution, membership is open to people with at least one-half Indian blood, provided that one-fourth comes from White Mountain Apache blood. An amendment would eliminate the one-half Indian blood standard and lower the White Mountain Apache blood to one-eighth.

Members who wish to participate in the election must return a registration form by June 15, The White Mountain Independent reported. Ballots will then be sent through the mail to eligible voters. Those ballots must be received by July 19, the paper said.

The vote is being held as a Secretarial election through the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The tribe has nearly 16,500 members and the rolls are expected to increase if the blood quantum standard is changed.

Get the Story:
Tribe to vote on enrollment change (The White Mountain Independent 6/7)

White Mountain Apache Tribe considers change to blood quantum (02/10)
BIA encourages tribes to assert more control over internal affairs (10/19)