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[Brownbear]

I know it's a bit dated, but it's an interesting story.

Blood Quantum
A complicated system that determines tribal membership threatens the future of American Indians
by Andrea Appleton, photos by Anne Sherwood, January 22, 2009 in the Missoula Independent

http://missoulanews.bigskypress.com/missoula/blood-quantum/Content?oid=1139644

[TNW]

I read some of it.  

But you know, these kids who aren't enough quantum for enrollment, are still Native.  Quantum doesn't make them who they are.  It only makes it possible for them to have aid through the Federal government.  The enrollment system was designed this way.  After so many generations, fewer Natives would be in the system for support.  The more people intermarry, the smaller the tribes enrollment becomes.  The smaller the Government's debt to the Indians becomes.

Natives need to remember, the government's blood "quantum" does not give or remove their tribal heritage.  Only their eligibility for Tribal / Federal assistance.


One more thing -- now that more ineligible children are being born to tribally enrolled parents, WITHOUT the future benefits of tribal finances... the more important it is for us (as parents and tiospaye) to insure these kids have a solid education so they can take care of themselves in the future.  Because they won't be able to depend on tribal assistance once they become adults.

[Brownbear]

I read some of it.  

But you know, these kids who aren't enough quantum for enrollment, are still Native.

I'd like to think so too, but I've actually had my run in with those who believe anything less than full-blood makes you a "wannabee" and you shouldn't be allowed to associate yourself with a specific tribe.  If that's the case, I'm pretty much in limbo...definitely can't be confused for being white but not enough blood quantum to be ndn.  It's a total beating.

[TNW]

I'd like to think so too, but I've actually had my run in with those who believe anything less than full-blood makes you a "wannabee" and you shouldn't be allowed to associate yourself with a specific tribe.  If that's the case, I'm pretty much in limbo...definitely can't be confused for being white but not enough blood quantum to be ndn.  It's a total beating.

That just makes them ignorant. Ignorant for two reasons - one for not thinking for themselves.  And two for following a code of crap.  The Feds says a person is not "Indian" enough to be given assistance, so others accept it as law?  Screw the assistance!  Screw what the government says!  Natives should never have fallen into that line of thinking in the first place!  Let's say next year we get a Memo from the government saying, "Everyone who likes bananas is now a monkey."  Does that mean we have to subscribe to their idiotic thinking?

I've always been sickened by Natives who FALL for the government's way of thinking.

1. The reservation is NOT our home.  It's a desolate, jail where our relatives happen to live.

2. The government does not have say over who is part of our family.  PERIOD. 

 

[robertfoster]

I find it so sad that Native Americans are subjected to this Blood Quantum issue and by their own people, does it really make one less Native American because their parents come from two different tribes . One is either a Native American or one is not, I sincerely hope that the people that suffer rejection from this Blood Quantum issue can get by and take pride  in their heritage .    Robert .

[Flutemaker]

Blood quantum is the feds attempt to wipe us out of existence.  The problem is that it like any other lie, when people hear it often enough that they start to believe that it is truth.

[OWG]

Someone I went to college with and who was a member of AIM tried to get me to join.  I told him that I didn't have enough Indian in me.  He told me that it wasn't the amount of red in your blood that made you an Indian but what was in the heart.  It is the one thing that no government can control.