Last week, the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska changed its enrollment requirements to a lineal descent model.
Under the new model, people who can trace their lineage to the original 1963 membership register are eligible or qualified to enroll in the tribe. Before the changes, people were unable to enroll in the tribe because of the blood quantum requirement.
John Cartier, Attorney General of the Omaha Tribe, told Siouxland Public Media that several options were considered before making the changes, but the lineal descent model remained the most consistent and popular choice.
He noted a few grandchildren had been unable to enroll in the tribe because their blood quantum was just below the required amount.
“I heard it was noticed that instead of getting a lot of disenrollment, it was less people going through the application process, which had dropped significantly the last several years to where it was a quarter of the volume of applications,” said Cartier.
He attributed this to people’s knowledge of their blood quantum and how it related to tribal membership requirements.
Cartier said the changes create opportunities for growth, but they come with a balancing act.
With the changes to enrollment, the tribe hopes to see an increase in members.