Indians of the Midwest

Tribal Enrollment

Above: Census of Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa, 1849. Drawing by Nago-nabe in Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, Historical and Statistical Information, Respecting the History, Condition and Prospects of the Indian Tribes of the United States (Newberry Library, Ayer 250 .S3h 1851, v. 2, pl. 54). View catalog record

Tribes have the right to determine their own membership. These criteria for enrollment vary from tribe to tribe. In the Midwest, the criteria are based on descendancy, that is, descent from an individual on a particular roll, as well as, in some cases, blood quantum and/or residency of the applicant or his/her parents. Most tribes also have constitutional provisions for adoption of members. Individuals who are enrolled in a particular tribe have rights that include hunting, fishing, and gathering on tribal land (or in some cases off-reservation), as well as per capita payments if the tribe distributes income from court cases or businesses. Other benefits include preferential hiring for tribal jobs, entitlement to certain services, the right to vote and run for tribal office, use of tribal land, and preferential selection for tribal housing.

A tribal roll is based on a particular “base roll,” that varies from tribe to tribe. In the mid-19th century, community membership depended on residence and participation, but when treaties were made, “annuity rolls” were prepared by the government, listing the tribal members who would receive goods and payments. At first these written rolls had names but no “blood quantums.”

What do Indian censuses reveal about U.S. Indian policy?

Census of Mille Lacs Band of Chippewas, 1849

Each Ojibwa family is represented by the head of family, symbolized by a pictograph of his Ojibwa name. The members of this village nearly all belonged to the same clan. There were 108 individuals (represented by vertical lines) in 34 families. Some of the names of family heads are: 2, Valley; 4, Shooter; 5, Catfish; 34, Axe. At this time, federal officials dealt with men in a village and did not consider it important to record the individual identities of women and children. Drawing by Nago-nabe in Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, Historical and Statistical Information, Respecting the History, Condition and Prospects of the Indian Tribes of the United States (Newberry Library, Ayer 250 .S3h 1851, v. 2, pl. 54).

White Earth Ojibwa Census, 1885

The Ojibwa were listed according to their band or village affiliation. The leader ("Chief") of each village appeared at the top of the village list. Officials dealt largely through band leaders at this time. Families were listed together but individuals were referred to by their personal Ojibwa names, not their father's name. Note that the census of the Otter Tail Pillager band began on this page. The Chief's name appeared, then individuals organized by family. The Chief's wife, two daughters, and three sons were listed below his name. Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 (Newberry Library, Microfilm 440, roll 649).

Wisconsin Winnebago (Ho-Chunk) Census, 1910

Federal officials wanted Indians to use English names, and they considered wives to be dependents of their husbands. Note that Snider Bear's Winnebago name and English surname "Bear" were given, and his wife Nancy and children were listed with "Bear" as their surname. There was no mention of "blood degree." Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 (Newberry Library, Microfilm 440, roll 671).

Wisconsin Winnebago (Ho-Chunk) Census, 1928

Note that the Winnebago names did not appear on the census. See, for example, Snider Bear (3) and his son George (4). Note also that there still was no mention of "blood degree" Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 (Newberry Library, Microfilm 440, roll 570).

Wisconsin Winnebago (Ho-Chunk) Census, 1929

On this census, the family members were identified by the father's English surname and the "blood quantum" was given as "Full" or "Mixed." Note that Snider Bear (2) and son (3) are "F" (Full). Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 (Newberry Library, Microfilm 440, roll 570, p. 1).

Wisconsin Winnebago (Ho-Chunk) Census, 1929(a)

Note the blood quantum of the Sam Blowsnake family members: Sam (92) was "Mixed" (M), his wife Emma (93) was "Full" (F), and their children (94-97) are "Mixed" (p. 8). Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 (Newberry Library, Microfilm 440, roll 570) .

White Earth Ojibwa Census, 1937

Compare this census to the 1885 White Earth Census. Here individuals were not listed as members of bands headed by Chiefs. Rather, individuals were grouped into families according to the head of household's English surname (listed alphabetically) or sometimes individuals were listed with an English given name and their father's Ojibwa name as surname. Their "blood degree" was given. A few individuals were living off the reservation. The individuals' allotment numbers also were recorded. By the 1930s, the federal government began identifying individuals by blood degree and increasingly attempted to deal with individuals rather than families or groups of families. Note the Harry Antill family. The wife and children have the father's English surname. Harry's blood degree is 3/8; the wife's, 4/4; and the childrens', 11/16. Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 (Newberry Library, Microfilm 440, roll 75).

In Michigan, the Ottawa and the lower Michigan Potawatomi tribes, having been denied the right to organize an Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) government in the 1930s, use late 19th and early 20th century rolls as base rolls. The federal government used these rolls to distribute annuity goods and payments based on treaties. Tribal members today must be able to trace descent from an enrollee on the base roll. The Hannahville Potawatomi in upper Michigan did organize an IRA government, and their base roll was made in 1936. The Ojibwas in lower and upper Michigan have base rolls prepared at the time they accepted IRA governments (but based on older rolls), except the Lac Vieux Desert tribe prepared its roll after being federally recognized in 1988.

Listen to John Low discuss the enrollment requirements for his tribe, the Pokagon Potawatomi

John Low on Pokagon enrollment. Production by Mike Media Group, 2009. View transcript | View at Internet Archive

In Wisconsin, the Ojibwa tribes and the Oneida take as their base rolls those prepared at the time they accepted IRA governments as well as earlier allotment rolls, and the Forest Potawatomi also use a roll prepared from a census taken in conjunction with their acceptance of an IRA government. The Ho-Chunk and Stockbridge-Munsee tribes use base rolls derived from early 20th century annuity or allotment rolls. The Menominee base roll was prepared at the time of the Menominee Restoration, but based on older rolls.

Listen to Josh Gerzetich discuss the Oneida’s blood quantum requirement

Josh Gerzetich on Oneida enrollment. Production by Mike Media Group, 2010. View transcript | View at Internet Archive

The Minnesota Ojibwa use base rolls based on 1941 annuity rolls prepared for treaty payments. The Dakotas use rolls from the time of the IRA, or older rolls. Also, the Prairie Island and Lower Sioux Dakota communities allow Dakotas enrolled elsewhere to transfer their enrollment status to Prairie Island or Lower Sioux.

Marriages between people from different tribes are quite common. The children of these marriages may find it difficult to meet enrollment requirements of any tribe.

Hunting Deer, Fall 1997

Mille Lacs Tribal Members David and Mary Sam participated in the first off-reservation deer season in the Treaty of 1837 ceded area. Tribal members are entitled to obtain hunting licenses to hunt on and off the reservation in compliance with tribal codes. The tribes have game wardens to monitor on-reservation hunting. Hunting in the ceded territory is monitored by the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission game wardens. Infractions are handled in tribal court. GLIFWC is an organization of 11 Ojibwa tribes. Photo courtesy of Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC).

Health Department Wellness Program, Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Pottawatomi

Tribal members are eligible for a range of services from the tribal health department. Here a tribal employee checks a patient’s blood pressure. Photo courtesy of Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi.

Housing for Elders, 2008

These students at Leech Lake Tribal College are building a two-bedroom home for elderly tribal members at Red Lake Reservation, where there is a severe housing shortage. The carpentry students are participants in an Americorps program that targets minority and low-income students (including non-Indians). The college welcomes the program because the students’ attendance and grades have improved. Photo courtesy of Tom Robertson, Minnesota Public Radio.

Head Start Program, Leech Lake Reservation

Children who are tribal members are eligible for Head Start programs operated by the tribe. These programs stress culturally relevant activities. Photo courtesy of Gaming Department, Leech Lake Reservation

Michigan Tribes

Tribes revise their constitutions from time to time. This chart is based on the constitutions as dated in parentheses. Source: National Law Library (NARF) (http://www.narf.org/nill/triballaw/az.htm) and Native American Constitution and Law Digitization Project (http://thorpe.ou.edu).

Wisconsin Tribes

Minnesota Tribes

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