Blood Quantum Community Discussions Planned
The Fort Peck Tribes are currently hosting community discussions throughout the reservation in December on the subject of blood quantum as a possible criteria for various levels of tribal membership. Those dates are listed below.
Only a fraction of the people who selected American Indian or Alaskan Native in the 2020 census are enrolled in state and/or federally recognized tribes. Tribal membership is typically determined by one of two approaches: The first is lineage, or being a lineal descendant of someone on a tribe’s base roll. The second is blood quantum, which counts the percentage of ancestry that is attributable to a particular tribe, via Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood or another method (CDIB are issued by the Bureau of Indian Affairs).
Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board member Jestin Dupree told the Northern Plains Independent the current enrollment status to be fully enrolled in the Fort Peck Tribes is one-quarter of either Assiniboine or Sioux blood. “Our tribal constitution is 64 years old,” Dupree said. “That document has carried our tribe since Oct. 1, 1961, and we have people out there who are falling short of the one-fourth status and are not eligible for benefits.”
Dupree said the community discussions are part of a process for reevaluating the criteria for tribal membership, possibly to increase avenues for membership.
“There are many reasons why this happens but at the end of the day we have to take a good look and plan for our future generations,” said Dupree. “Will our current constitution last another 64 years on the path we are going? I would like to hope so, but in reality, we are facing a version of genocide. Only dogs, horses and Indians have to prove their bloodlines.”
Dupree said there is a need to address the subject with some urgency. “The bottom line for me is my future family members deserve the same things I am fortunate to have today. This doesn’t affect me yet, but it does affect some of our members. We are the only tribe with associate members.”
Dupree said the next steps may include putting the issue on a ballot. “The authority ultimately lies with our tribal members regarding the future for our tribe,” he said.
The next community session is set for Dec. 10 in Fort Kipp from 6-7 p.m. at the community hall, followed by Dec. 11 in Brockton from 6-7 p.m. at the cultural center, Dec. 12 in Poplar from 6-7 p.m. at the cultural center, Dec. 17 in Wolf Point from 6-7 p.m. at the community hall and Dec. 18 in Frazer from 6-7 p.m. at the community hall.
For more information, call Dupree at 406-768-7813 or send an email to jdupree@fortpecktribes.net.