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Snoqualmie Indian Tribe Completes First Step in Tribal Membership Audit

The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe announced the completion of the first step in its tribal enrollment audit. The process was put into motion a little over one year ago, after a majority vote by Snoqualmie tribal members at a General Membership meeting on January 15, 2011. The purpose of the audit is to protect current and future Snoqualmie generations by ensuring the integrity and authenticity of tribal members. It also provides the Snoqualmie government an accurate and current assessment of its citizens. This week, personalized letters were mailed to every family and individual on the existing tribal membership rolls that explains their present status with the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe.

“A core element of democracy is the rights of its citizenry. In order to identify and best serve all of its citizens, Snoqualmie Tribal members directed their government to conduct a professional genealogy audit based on the membership requirements listed in the Snoqualmie Constitution,” said Snoqualmie Tribal Administrator Matthew Mattson.

“Members that have demonstrated their lineage and one-eighth blood quantum to the Tribe will be permitted to vote on Tribal matters and seek elected positions in government,” said Chairwoman Shelley Burch.

As part of this first step in the membership audit, families and individuals can supply additional information. At the conclusion of the membership audit process, members who have the requisite lineage and one-eighth blood quantum will be allowed to vote and serve in elected government positions. Those members who do not meet the one-eighth blood quantum still continue to have access to health care, housing, education and other services provided by the Snoqualmie government.

Enrollment audits are common among Native American Indian Tribes and have been recently conducted by many tribes throughout the United States. The Snoqualmie enrollment audit was conducted in cooperation with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and led by a University of Washington genealogist, Sarah Thorson Little, and team of assistants. This lead professor is the past president of the Seattle Genealogical Society, specializes in 18th-20th century American records and has conducted research for several Washington State tribes.

For further information about the Snoqualmie Tribal Constitution or the Snoqualmie Tribal Enrollment Act, please visit http://www.snoqualmienation.com/Organic Documents.htm.

 

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