TRIBAL MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS AND THE DEMOGRAPHY OF OLD AND NEW NATIVE-AMERICANS

This paper examines the twentieth-century population recovery of Nativ e Americans with reference to urbanization, intermarriage, and differi ng definitions of the Native American population from census and triba l enrollment data. The recent increase in the Native American populati on reflected in regular US decennial censuses since 1960 is discussed in terms of changing self-identification of individuals as 'Native Ame rican'. Also discussed are criteria for enrollment in Native American tribes, particularly blood quantum requirements. Census enumerations a re compared with tribal enrollment data, and it is illustrated that a large proportion of those identifying as 'Native American' in the cens us are not enrolled in Native American tribes. Special attention is gi ven to how Native American tribal enrollment criteria might impact fut ure population size.