Enrollment Ordinance
The Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians is composed of a weave of many strands; We should recognize them and let it so remain. Our fate is to become one, and yet many.

Being an enrolled member of a tribe has important social, fiscal and cultural issues for both the tribal member and for the tribe itself. Defining who can be a member of our tribe is our next challenge.

While many American Indians in other parts of the country switch tribal allegiance many California Indian Tribes are embroiled in deep divisions over the basic question of who is and who is not a tribal member. In California this question is more unique than in other parts of the country due to our interrupted history—termination/re-recognition. The other problem in California is that many tribes are small bands comprised of only a few families where internal and petty family squabbles can contribute to an atmosphere of divisiveness.

The BIA uses the criteria of one-fourth blood quantum. Critics feel this was a system designed by the federal government with the explicit goal of eliminating tribes. If blood quantum will eventually lead to the extinction of many tribes, then which alternative, if any, should be used? Our Constitution states that you can only be a tribal member if your name appeared on the official census rolls of 1935 or a child of a tribal member who was a resident of the Rancheria at the time of the child’s birth.

In October we will present to the General Community Council a process for the development of an Enrollment Ordinance that will allow members to voice their opinion on this sensitive subject.

It is not a matter of right or wrong. Tribes have constitutions. These will be our rules and we have the right to make them.

September, 2000