The Great Vanishing Act : Blood Quantum and the Future of Native Nations

The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 was the US government's attempt to define who "Indians" were. Among the criteria the act set was a blood quantum, which declared that "Indians" were "all other persons of one-half or more Indian blood". Today, many tribes wrestle with the legacy of blood quantum and "Indian" identity, as they work to manage tribal enrollment and social services. As the bloodlines grow increasingly diluted, within a few generation, recognized tribes might legally disappear. Through essays, personal stories, case studies, satire, and poetry, The Great Vanishing Act brings together writers from around the world to explore the biological and cultural metaphor of blood quantum, the most critical issue facing Indigenous populations in the twenty-first century. Front Cover 1 Title Page 2 Copyright 3 Half Title 4 Contents 6 Foreword 10 Dr. Henrietta Mann 10 Preface 14 Kathleen Ratteree and Norbert Hill 14 Part 1: Cultural Metaphor 20 Love in the Time of Blood Quantum 22 Adrienne Keene 22 It’s in the Blood, and in the Earth – Haudenosaunee Descent and Identity 33 Richard Hill 33 Good Guidance 43 Leslie Logan 43 Walking in Two Worlds: The Native American College Experience 52 Olivia Hoeft 52 Trickster Teaches the Prairie Dogs How to Disenroll Their Members 58 Robert Chanate 58 Fraction of Love 62 Reed Bobroff 62 Bloodflow 90 Reed Bobroff 90 Part 2: Decolonizing History 94 Vampire Policy Is Bleeding Us Dry – Blood Quantums, Be Gone! 96 Suzan Shown Harjo 96 Bleeding Out: Histories and Legacies of “Indian Blood” 99 Doug Kiel 99 Decolonizing Colonial Constructions of Indigenous Identity: A Conversation between Debra Harry and Leonie Pihama 117 Debra Harry and Leonie Pihama 117 Race and Sovereignty 130 Julia Coates 130 Part 3: Decolonizing Biology and Demography 146 Twentieth Century Tribal Blood Politics: Policy, Place, and Descent 148 Kim TallBear 148 Who Counts? Indians and the U.S. Census 161 Russell Thornton 161 NDN DNA 178 Jessica Kolopenuk 178 (Re)Building the Lāhui (Hawaiian Nation) 192 Maile Taualii 192 Part 4: Policy, Law, and Nation Building 206 “Making Ourselves Whole with Words”: A Short History White Earth Anishinaabeg Tribal Citizenship Criteria 208 Jill Doerfler 208 Blood Quantum: The Mathematics of Ethnocide 229 David E. Wilkins and Shelly Hulse Wilkins 229 What Can Tribal Child Welfare Policy Teach Us about Tribal Citizenship? 247 Miriam Jorgensen, Adrian T. Smith, Terry Cross, and Sarah Kastelic 247 Blood Quantum: Fractionated Land, Fractionated People 265 Richard Monette 265 Reconsidering Blood Quantum Criteria for the Expansion of Tribal Jurisdiction 279 Rebecca M. Webster 279 Blood, Identity, and the Ainu Society in Contemporary Japan 290 Yuka Mizutani 290 Part 5: Where to Go from Here? Moving Forward 306 From Tribal Members to Native Nation Citizens 308 Stephen Cornell and Joseph P. Kalt 308 We Chose This, Now What? What Comes after Blood Quantum? 324 Gyasi Ross 324 Applying Indigenous Values to Contemporary Tribal Citizenship: Challenge and Opportunity 335 LaDonna Harris, Kathryn Harris Tijerina, and Laura Harris 335 Contributor Biographies 352 About the Editors 367 A Person's Blood Quantum Is Defined As The Percentage Of Their Ancestors Who Are Documented As Full-blood Native Americans. The Us Federal Government Uses A Blood Quantum Minimum As A Measure Of Indian Identity To Manage Tribal Enrollments And Access To Cultural And Social Services. Evidence Suggests That If Current Demographic Trends Continue, Within A Few Generations Tribes Will Legally Disappear. Through Essays, Personal Stories, Case Studies, Satire, And Poetry, A Lauded Collection Of International Contributors Will Explore Blood Quantum As Biology And As Cultural Metaphor. Featuring Diverse And Talented Native Voices Representing Different Generations, Backgrounds, And Literary Styles, The Great Vanishing Act, Addresses The Most Critical Issue Facing Native Americans And All Indigenous Populations In The 21st Century And Hopes To Redefine The Meaning Of Cultural Citizenship-- It's In The Blood, And In The Earth : Haudenosaunee Descent And Identity / Richard Hill -- Love In The Time Of Blood Quantum / Adrienne Keene -- Good Guidance / Leslie Logan -- Walking In Two Worlds : The Native American College Experience / Olivia Hoeft -- Trickster Teaches The Prairie Dogs How To Disenroll Their Members / Robert Chanate -- Fraction Of Love / Reed Bobroff -- Bloodflow / Reed Bobroff -- Vampire Policy Is Bleeding Us Dry : Blood Quantums, Be Gone! / Suzan Shown Harjo -- Bleeding Out : Histories And Legacies Of Indian Blood / Doug Kiel -- Decolonizing Colonial Constructions Of Indigenous Identity : A Conversation Between Debra Harry And Leonie Pihama / Debra Harry And Leonie Pihama -- Race And Sovereignty / Julia Coates -- Twentieth Century Tribal Blood Politics : Policy, Place, And Descent / Kim Tallbear -- Who Counts? : Indians And The U.s. Census / Russell Thornton -- Ndn Dna / Jessica Kolopenuk -- (re)building The LÄühui (hawaiian Nation) / Maile Taualii -- Making Ourselves Whole With Words : A Short History Of White Earth Anishinaabeg Tribal Citizenship Criteria / Jill Doerfler -- Blood Quantum : The Mathematics Of Ethnocide / Favid E. Wilkins And Shelly H. Mcdonald -- What Can Tribal Child Welfare Policy Teach Us About Tribal Citizenship? / Miriam Jorgensen, Adrian Smith, Terry Cross, And Sarah Kastelic -- Blood Quantum : Fractionated Land, Fractionated People / Richard Monette -- Reconsidering Blood Quantum Criteria For The Expansion Of Tribal Jurisdiction / Rebecca M. Webster -- Blood, Identity, And The Ainu Society In Contemporary Japan / Yuka Mizutani -- From Tribal Members To Native Nation Citizens / Stephen Cornell And Joseph P. Kalt -- We Chose This, Now What? : What Comes After Blood Quantum? / Gyasi Ross -- Applying Indigenous Values To Contemporary Tribal Citizenship : Challenge And Opportunity / Ladonna Harris, Kathryn Harris Tijerina, And Laura Harris. Edited By Kathleen Ratteree And Norbert Hill. Includes Bibliographical References. The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 was the US government’s attempt to define who “Indians” were. Among the criteria the act set was a blood quantum, which declared that “Indians” were "all other persons of one-half or more Indian blood". Today, many tribes wrestle with the legacy of blood quantum and “Indian” identity, as they work to manage tribal enrollment and social services. As the bloodlines grow increasingly diluted, within a few generation, recognized tribes might legally disappear.Through essays, personal stories, case studies, satire, and poetry, __The Great Vanishing Act__ brings together writers from around the world to explore the biological and cultural metaphor of blood quantum, the most critical issue facing Indigenous populations in the twenty-first century.