A proposal by the Crow tribal chair could dramatically change who counts as a Crow tribal member under the blood quantum standard, a concept created by White settlers and rooted in assimilation tactics.
Blood quantum refers to the fractional amount of tribal affiliation in an individual’s ancestry and is central to individual identity, though it remains a highly controversial topic. Currently, the Crow Tribe's enrollment policy mandates that individuals must possess one-quarter Crow Indian blood to become members. The legislation proposed by Chairman Frank Whiteclay would redefine all existing members as possessing 100% Crow blood, potentially benefiting 14,289 enrolled members and thousands of their descendants by granting wider access to tribal services.
Blood quantum is used by many tribes across the U.S. as a metric for eligibility for citizenship, affecting access to healthcare, voting rights in tribal elections, and educational scholarships. Tribal colleges are also required to serve a certain number of enrolled tribal members to maintain their status.
Whiteclay suggests that his legislation addresses generational loss in tribal membership: We have to have that mentality that the tribe as a whole should benefit, not just a certain few. This change aims to confront the declining membership caused by blood quantum regulations, which were originally influenced by assimilation policies that emphasized individual rights over tribal identities.
Experts note that blood quantum is a method created to control and limit Native membership, with some believing it threatens the survival of Native nations. Proponents of Whiteclay's proposal underscore its potential to reset the membership narrative, allowing for a broader definition of what it means to belong to the Crow Tribe.
As Native communities, like the Crow, navigate their legislations, they grapple with sovereignty while addressing the historical intricacies surrounding their identities and citizenship criteria. The Crow Tribe's legislative process will involve discussions within their 18-member Legislature to propose amendments, ultimately returning the act to the chair for signing if passed.
