How do you determine Native American by blood?

Answer 1

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.