Minnesota Chippewa Begin Evaluating Membership Criteria

Fond du Lac Reservation -- The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe has begun the process of evaluating membership criteria. Right now blood quantum, or the evidence determining Native America decent decides membership.

Currently, members of the Chippewa Tribe need one-fourth "Indian blood" to qualify.

Now, a new survey is being sent to Chippewa members in Minnesota and neighboring states, to get a real perspective on the blood quantum numbers in the region.

"However the initial hurdle that we're kind of tackling is what constitutes membership and whether the one-quarter is appropriate."

Chairwoman Diver says that deaths from the baby boomer generation in the future could impact the number of registered Chippewa.

For the membership criteria to change, the tribal constitution must change by a referendum vote.

Diver says that it will be years before anything is decided.