Quantum Leap: Does "Indian Blood" Still Matter?

Unlike other ethnic minorities in the United States, American Indians are defined not solely by self-designation but by federal, state, and tribal laws. Blood quantum—originating from archaic notions of biological race and still codified in contemporary policy—remains one of the most important factors in determining tribal citizenship, access to services, and community recognition. This concept, however, is not without debate and contestation. This symposium features Native scholars who approach this important and complex topic from various perspectives. Sociologists Eva Marie Garroutte (Boston College) and C. Matthew Snipp (Stanford) join historian Malinda Lowery (UNC Chapel Hill) and anthropologist Kimberly TallBear (UC Berkeley) in a discussion moderated by museum historian Gabrielle Tayac.
2011-09-16

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Native
• American
• Indian
• Blood
• Quantum
• Ethnicity
• Rights
• Inheritance
• DNA
• Tribe
• Kinship
• National
• Museum
• of
• the

[wovokanarchy]

@MrJamesMWebb So what does that make you? A great great great grand Cherokee?

[MrJamesMWebb]

Shiyo my name is James M Webb the Artist and my cousin is Chief Michell Hicks of the Eastern Band of the Cherokees in NC. I am a Artist but our GREAT CREATOR and his son CHRIST JESUS The Master worker is The GREATEST Artist of all.

[MrJamesMWebb]

Hicks men were involved on both sides of this conflict.

Several of the Cherokees of this time period were of Hicks descent. Such as the descendants of Nathan Hicks, son of Robert Hicks and Great-great grandson of our immigrant Robert Hicks, who had married Na’Ye’He’ Wolf, and who fought beside Chief Bowles in the first Cherokee War.

[MrJamesMWebb]

we all come from one blood and we should love all race no matter who they are but we don't have to love there ways that is truth

[MrJamesMWebb]

Cherokee blood runs Thick in me from my Great Great Great Grand floks the Hicks and Kirkland the Long the Nash the Malone the Giles the Key the Webb the Faw Stephens all great great great grand mothers and great great great grand fathers

[Tonymiz]

That's bullshit...blood was very important even among other indians. Sooner or later Indians won't exist. Might as well become white because there r the new Indians. Lol stupid hick

[Tonymiz]

Purity is beautiful and Indians need to know that. Mix and u will lose ur heritage that simple. Indians don't have the luxury to b mixing, we r very few. WE ARE not test rats

[Tonymiz]

White man doesn't for speak for indians or mankind.

[Tonymiz]

White people make it stupidly complex, when in fact if u don't have Indian blood ur not Indian. Being pure is important and there is nothing wrong with that. White man doesn't speak Indian or man kind.

[louisethundercloud]

I have never actually worried about blood quantum's, I don't identify as mixed blood either, its obvious that I am mixed. On the historical context, we were all who our mothers were, we may have been mixed with other nations or races, but we were who our mothers were. Blood Quantum is an artificial barrier created to divide & destroy us all. Some of our people have adopted this horrible practice to "weed" certain people out. On the other hand, we are trying to know who our folks are.