As Resa Bizzaro describes, “for the most part, membership requirements are determined by the specific groups themselves with no outside interference, often imposing strict limitations on who may officially assert their identities as Indians.” (65) In many cases, the tribes decide that a certain degree of Indian blood (or blood quantum) must be proven in order to be officially enrolled; oftentimes this blood quantum is very high, such as ½ Indian blood. These strict rules of membership exclude the vast majority of mixed bloods from having much of a voice in their culture, being especially important due to their relatively small population when compared to the dominant
As Resa Bizzaro describes, “for the most part, membership requirements are determined by the specific groups themselves with no outside interference, often imposing strict limitations on who may officially assert their identities as Indians.” (65) In many cases, the tribes decide that a certain degree of Indian blood (or blood quantum) must be proven in order to be officially enrolled; oftentimes this blood quantum is very high, such as ½ Indian blood. These strict rules of membership exclude the vast majority of mixed bloods from having much of a voice in their culture, being especially important due to their relatively small population when compared to the dominant