Future of tribal membership questioned
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Editor,
At the risk of being tabbed a racist, I would like to make some observations regarding the destiny of the CSKT tribal membership.
Presently, this membership includes some 8,000 individuals who reside all over the United States, with a majority of them living together with some 350,000 other Western Montana citizens, who are non-members. Inter-marriage between these two groups is common with the results being non-membership offspring.
Blood quantum requirements for membership is now fixed at 25 percent CSKT ancestry.
Is it reasonable to predict what this tribal membership number will be in five generations? There are two options: first, near extinction because of lack of members, or second, reduction of quantum requirements, with the results of having tens of thousands qualify for membership. My thought is that the second choice will win.
If so, at that time this tribe will face the same impasse, which the Cherokee Tribe faced over a century ago – a reduction in tribal quantum required, or virtual extinction of the tribe. The Cherokees chose the reduction and now have a quarter of a million membership, with a membership value of little more than the right to call themselves “Native Americans.”
My advice to our current relatives who are enrolled members of CSKT? Get the most out of your membership while you can, as soon as you can.
Lloyd Ingraham
Ronan
