That depends on who you ask, and what their political motivation
is. There are two different Federal Laws (US Laws) on the
subject:
1) That any amount of blood (genetic heritage) gives that person
rights under the treaties, (Cohen's Handbook on Federal Indian Law)
or;
2) That a "Blood Quantum" exists (see notes). Some tribal units
follow one or both of these laws, some make up their own laws,
while others recognize the original tribal laws (that have nothing
to do with 'blood' at all). Please Note that "Blood Quantum" is a
rejected scientific theory that "Aryan Blood" (or genetics) push
out "Mongrel Blood" through interbreeding, IE: 1 Full Blood Indian
and 1 Full Blood Aryan give birth to a child that is 1/2 Indian and
1/2 Aryan and if two of these half breeds give birth to a child
that child is more Aryan than Mongrel, or in simplified math
terms:
A = Full Blood Indian
B = Full Blood Aryan
C = 1/2 Indian 1/2 Aryan
So: A + B = C and C + C = B (which is mathematically impossible,
thus its rejection)
It is also stated, in rejection of the theory, that a blood
transfusion from an "Indian" gives quantum merit - also
rejected.
