Articles

Tips for Moving Beyond Blood Quantum

We know blood quantum, or “how much Native blood you have,” isn’t a good way of determining how Indigenous someone is. The truth is though that this racist concept has been with us for a long time. So how do we move beyond blood quantum? Here are some ideas:

Gather more info
Some people believe that rejecting blood quantum as a way of determining tribal membership is a way of decolonizing our tribal governments. Decolonizing your tribal government means incorporating your peoples’ traditional ways of thinking and behaving into the way your government works. This also means rejecting the ideals and values imposed by White settler society.

If you do not already know, consider learning about the traditional ways in which your people defined tribal membership. It might help to speak with an Elder, contact your tribe’s cultural affairs department, or talk with others from your community.

Embrace your Nativeness
Look inside yourself and consider what you believe makes you Native. Is it your jingle dress dancing? Is it your passion to help your people? Is it your ability to speak your language or your connection with your Elders? Whatever being Native is to you, embrace that. Then, the next time someone asks you “How much Native are you?” you can tell them that this is not how you define yourself. Rather, you can tell them the things that make you proud of who you are and your people.

Practice self-love
Be proud of who you are and where you come from. No matter what others say no one can take the rich history of your people away from you. No one can take away or diminish the resilience passed down to you from your ancestors. No one can take away your Indigeneity. Practice self-love.

Learn about lateral violence
You may encounter others within your own tribal community who treat you unkindly due to your blood quantum. This type of bullying is called lateral violence. Take a moment to educate yourself about lateral violence and learn how to cope.

Petition your tribal council
Your tribe and its leadership have the authority to determine the requirements of your community’s tribal membership. You can advocate to your tribal council about changing membership requirements based on blood quantum. In many communities, petitioning your tribal council involves attending a council meeting and contributing your thoughts, or speaking with your relatives and relations who are on council outside of council sessions. Being an effective advocate often involves doing research, learning about the history of why certain decisions were made, making a case for why something is not working, and proposing a possible path forward.

Keep learning

Author: Tamee Livermont is a citizen of the Oglala Lakota Nation. Her passion and interests lie in advocacy to create healthier, safer communities for generations to come. She is pursuing a career in medicine and policy. In her free time she is an advocate for equity and justice, hikes, and quilts.

Colonial Languages Do Not Define My Identity

As a queer, 2-Spirit Indigenous person, I have definitely struggled with my...

History of the Sterilization of Native Women

It is no secret that the federal government has tried for centuries...

I Strengthen My Nation: Caitlin

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), in partnership with We R...

Why Medical Racism = Genocide

Racism is real. It influences all aspects of our lives, including whose...

What I Love About My Indigenous Features

As an Indigenous adult, I want to do everything I can to...

Culture is Prevention

Being a Strong Indigenous Leader

Indigenous leadership is a hot topic these days. The truth is that...

Our Stories Connect Us to Place and People

Indigenous people have always been some of the best storytellers, and recently...

Aurora / Connection

6 Anthems by Queer and Two-Spirit Indigenous Artists to Pump You Up

Music is powerful medicine – especially when it’s coming from people who...

Connecting to Our Land is Connecting to Our Culture

Our relationship with the land is a huge part of our culture...

Defined by my Ancestors, Not Dead Presidents

History Through a Native Lens

Timeline Overview This timeline of historically traumatic events was authored by Karina...

Native Pride

It is not documents that define us, but rather what is undocumented....

MMIWG (Murdered Missing Indigenous Women and Girls)

Mixed Identity

I belong to two different tribes: to the Shoalwater Bay Indian tribe...

Dealing with Stereotypes and Racism

Most of us know that racism and stereotypes suck. Some of us...

Elder Teachings

Identity

JeMarie is a seventeen-year-old Californian of Native American descent, specifically Iroquois, Choctaw,...

How Does a Person Become Resilient?

A number of factors contribute to a person’s ability to be resilient...

WRN Ambassadors

Represent We R Native

What I am Thankful for

What I am Thankful For Tribal Ways I am thankful for our...

562

562: A photo project documenting all 562…now 566 tribes in the United...

Sequoia Dance

I Am Native. Sequoia Lynn Dance (Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, age 17) This is...

Tiffany Benally

I am a young mother and wife. I was born in Fort...

Poetry Slam: I Know this to be True

I know this to be true – that I do not like...

Represent – Computer Medicine

Mattie Harper, Bois Forte Ojibwe, is a Ph.D candidate in Ethnic Studies...

Native Youth Voting

Many of us have grown up listening to the adults around us...

Native Identity: Stereotypes

When I first started college in Seattle, Washington, I started making a...

REPRESENT

Kayla Gebeck, Red Lake Ojibwe, studies linguistics and Native American Studies at...

Maria Martinez

Yah’teeh shi eya Maria Mary Martinez ye’she Ashihii nishlii haclishnee ba’sh’chiin, tlogi...

Imelda Martina Sanchez

I am Imelda Martina Sanchez. I am a Native and Mexican American...

We Are Still Here

What is today’s young Native American’s life like? What are the challenges...

iLL Mind Of Ghost Dog: The Most Dangerous Native

As you ladies and gents read the title of my blog, “The...

I Am Indian Country

Respect, honesty, love, bravery, humility, truth and wisdom are our cultural values....

Two Spirit Project (Garni)

Garni (Blackfoot Nation) talks about coming out as a lesbian and her...

Erika Ramirez

My experience at the NIHB Native Youth Health Summit, was one of...

Culture is Prevention

Culture is Prevention: Native youth and elders explore underage drinking. Filmed at...

Two Spirit

Two Spirited people have both a male and female spirit in them.

Constance Owl

Hi everyone. I am Constance Owl, an enrolled member of the Eastern...

A Native Candidate’s Story

When Barbara Vicknair (enrolled citizen of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians...

Identity-Geronimo E-KIA

Geronimo was a product of his environment. A human. One with flaws....

Smudging

Have you ever been at a powwow or a ceremonial gathering and...

Tribal Sovereignty

After over 300 years of history, the question of Indian tribal sovereignty is...

Miss Indian Nations

A short conversation with Shanoa Pinkham (Yakama), 2011 Miss Indian Nations.

Jaecie’s Story

Who’s important in your life? Who makes you happy? Jaecie gives us...

Identity-Smoke Signals

  A funny clip from the movie, Smoke Signals. How to be...

Identity-Proud Native American

A video poem that honors Anishinaabe heritage. The poem illustrates a young...

1/2

Monika lost her identity…but her identity never lost her. Instead of feeling...

Identity In College

Finding yourself and discovering your identity is part of life. Ah-in-nist shares...

Culture is not a costume!

see answer

Follow Us

Enter Phone Number to Subscribe:

Msg & Data Rates May Apply.
Text STOP to opt out. No purchase necessary.
Expect 4 msgs/mo.Terms and Conditions

Menu