Crow Tribe rejects citizenship bill after 14,000-member enrollment decline

The Crow Tribe’s population stands at more than 14,000, but that number has fallen since 2023. This decline has driven a contentious debate over who qualifies as a tribal citizen. Last week, the tribe’s Legislative Branch rejected a bill that would have changed the rules for membership.

The rejected proposal was introduced by Chairman Frank White Clay. It sought to revise the tribe’s current blood quantum standard. Under the existing constitution, an individual must possess at least one-quarter Crow Indian blood to enroll. The bill would have treated all living current members as 100% Crow. This change would have expanded eligibility for citizenship.

Blood quantum is a metric created by federal policymakers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It assigns fractional amounts of tribal affiliation based on ancestry. Jill Doerfler, head of American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota Duluth, noted that federal agents originally equated mixed blood with higher intellect. This historical context has led many experts to view the concept as flawed. As tribal members marry outside their nations, the pool of individuals meeting the one-quarter threshold shrinks over time.

The vote followed a nearly two-hour debate among Crow legislators. Lawmakers split on their reasons for opposing the measure. Some expressed hesitation to change enrollment criteria at all. Others argued the bill provided only a temporary fix rather than a long-term solution. Several members questioned if the proposed policy was the best available option.

Tribes across the United States use various methods to define citizenship. Most rely on some form of blood quantum calculation. The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes in Oklahoma, for example, lowered their threshold to one-eighth blood. The Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate in South Dakota requires one-quarter total Indian blood from any tribe, in addition to a genealogical tie. In Montana, the Blackfeet Nation and the Fort Belknap Aaniiih and Nakoda Tribes have also engaged in community discussions about changing their criteria.

An alternative to blood quantum is lineal descent. This model determines membership based on ancestry to a person on a designated base roll. The Cherokee Nation, with more than 470,000 enrolled citizens, uses this system. Critics argue lineal descent can be too inclusive. Desi Small-Rodriguez, an assistant professor at UCLA, stated that decisions on citizenship rock the core of sovereignty. She noted that tribes must balance financial benefits against cultural identity and community cohesion.

Some tribes that use lineal descent add extra conditions. The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe in South Dakota prohibits enrollment for individuals already members of other tribes. The Tulalip Tribes in Washington require a parent to have lived on the reservation for 12 consecutive months before the child’s birth. Other groups have considered culture or language tests, though experts say these options raise questions about administration and access.

Crow Speaker of the House Velma Pickett addressed the legislature after the vote. She described the rejection as a starting point. She said the body recognizes that enrollment will become a priority and that the issue needs to be addressed. The tribe now faces the task of determining its next steps in defining citizenship.