Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood
The Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) is an identification card issued by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs that certifies an individual's Native American heritage. It specifies the cardholder's tribal affiliation and the degree of Indian blood, which is crucial for accessing various governmental services designated for American Indians. To obtain a CDIB, applicants must demonstrate their direct lineage to someone listed on a tribal census roll, which can involve providing significant documentation, particularly if the last formally enrolled ancestor was from several generations back. This process has raised concerns, particularly regarding the difficulties of obtaining historical documentation and the potential exclusion of individuals from their rightful heritage, especially for those from earlier eras. Additionally, the CDIB is limited to members of federally recognized tribes, which has sparked debate about whether tribal nations should have the authority to determine their own membership criteria. Critics argue for the need for a more inclusive and equitable system, while others warn that abolishing the current framework could lead to misuse by non-Native individuals seeking benefits. The complexities surrounding the CDIB reflect broader discussions about identity, heritage, and the relationship between tribal sovereignty and federal recognition.
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Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood
In the United States, the US Bureau of Indian Affairs issues cards called a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood or a Certificate of Degree of Alaska Native Blood (both CDIB), which indicate an individual's ethnic identity. It states the cardholder’s Tribal affiliation and a total Indian blood degree. One purpose of the CDIB is to establish who is eligible for the various governmental services available to American Indians, which often require a minimum total Indian blood degree to qualify. State legislatures have enacted laws that specify (with varying degrees of precision) who may be considered a member of a Native American Nation in that state. Additionally, most Nations have specific regulations regarding who may qualify for benefits.
To obtain a CDIB, the applicant must prove their direct relationship to an individual who is listed on a tribal census roll or similar official document certifying that person's American Indian heritage and listing their specific percentage of American Indian blood. If at least one of the applicant's parents is listed, they need only provide a birth certificate, but if the last officially enrolled American Indian person in the family was several generations previous, the applicant may need to provide birth, marriage, and death records or similar official documentation for grandparents and great-grandparents. Some have criticized the requirements on the grounds that these documents can be difficult to obtain for those who lived in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, especially for American Indian people, who were particularly likely to fall outside the system. Furthermore, applicants have been denied CDIBs in cases where an ancestor's exact blood quantum was not stated on the rolls. Another concern is that the CDIB is available only to members of federally recognized tribes. Tribal leaders have argued that it should be for the tribes themselves, not for the federal government, to decide who qualifies. However, there is also concern that abolishing the system would lead to many non-American Indian individuals attempting to claim benefits to which they are not entitled. The issue remains a controversial one in many American Indian communities.
Bibliography
Barker, Joanne. Native Acts: Law, Recognition, and Cultural Authenticity. Duke UP, 2011.
Berry, Christina. "Blood Quantum—Why It Matters, and Why It Shouldn't." All Things Cherokee, 4 Aug. 2014, www.allthingscherokee.com/blood-quantum. Accessed 10 Oct. 2024.
Daley, Sean M., and Christine Makosky Daley. The Complexities of American Indian Identity in the Twenty-First Century. Lexington Books, 2023.
Forte, Maximilian C. Who Is an Indian? Race, Place, and the Politics of Indigeneity in the Americas. U of Toronto P, 2013.
Garoutte, Eva Marie. Real Indians: Identity and the Survival of Native America. U of California P, 2003.
"Tracing American Indian and Alaska Native Ancestry." Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.bia.gov/guide/tracing-american-indian-and-alaska-native-aian-ancestry. Accessed 10 Oct. 2024.