Tribal Citizenship in Crisis

The September 18 issue of Indian Country Today features a noteworthy editorial on current challenges surrounding the multifaceted issue of tribal citizenship.

Among the issues the piece raises,

Several serious issues concerning tribal citizenship threaten the future of American Indian nations. Few non-Indians understand the complex definition of citizenship for American Indians as U.S. citizens or the citizenship powers tribes have over their own members.

American Indians have an undefined dual citizenship in the United States and within their tribes. Since the 1970s, Indian tribes regained the power to make and enforce their own definitions of citizenship. For many decades, most Indian governments did not struggle with tribal citizenship issues. Many tribes simply adopted blood quantum requirements from BIA procedures.

The entire article can be viewed here.