BLOOD QUANTUM POLICY: Minnesota Chippewa Tribe President Speaks on their Constitution

The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe (MCT) is comprised of six Minnesota tribal nations and is a federally recognized tribal government. Currently, the Constitution requires a person's combined blood quantum from their parents to be at least 25 percent to be eligible for MCT enrollment, but not all within MCT agree with those standards. The discussion of blood quantum is nothing new to the MCT; however, in the past, there hasn't been a consensus on what should be done.

The discussion surrounding proposed and potential amendments to the MCT Constitution continues. A referendum is asking current members whether they want to vote to allow the six sovereign Bands to determine tribal membership of their own Band for themselves, possibly through Band Enrollment Ordinances, according to MCT President Cathy Chavers. We hear from Chavers on her thoughts on potential changes to the Constitution in relation to blood quantum. Chavers also serves as chairwoman of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa.

The Bands that comprise the MCT are the:
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Bois Forte Band of Chippewa
White Earth Nation

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