Tribe votes to eliminate blood quantum requirement

Several major changes are coming to the St. Croix Chippewa Tribe, after a historic vote by Tribal members last Wednesday, Nov. 8, marking a historic day for the St. Croix nation. The St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin (the “Tribe”) voted in a Secretarial Election to eliminate blood quantum requirements for Tribal membership last week. The Tribe will move to a model of lineal descendancy, whereas membership will be granted if a parent is an enrolled St. Croix member. 

Blood quantum, a system imposed by the United States government to determine Tribal membership, had previously required St. Croix members to have one-half or more St. Croix blood to become an enrolled member.