DCI America

(submitted by DNA Diagnostics Center)

Decisions regarding tribal membership or enrollment eligibility can often be difficult and complex. Some tribes are seeing an increase in the number of enrollment applications due to the rapid growth of tribal business enterprises. In light of this, many tribes have found themselves facing increased responsibility to ensure accurate and truthful enrollment processes.

Two of the most common tools used by tribes as part of their ordinance for enrollment are blood quantum and proof of lineal descent. However, both of these tools may fall short in providing definitive answers of eligibility for enrollment. By utilizing developments in DNA testing for family relationships, tribal councils and enrollment committees can now take control of the future by preserving their tribe’s solidarity. Tribes can now be surer than ever that their Native American heritage is not only rooted in tradition, but also bound by blood. As James Mills, president of DCI America has stated, “tribal enrollment remains the fundamental issue of tribal survival.” While DNA may not be the answer for all cases of tribal enrollment and may not necessarily be recommended as the sole means of enrollment determination, it can be used in some cases for validation of tribal identity and assist in resolving questions when blood quantum or lineal descent may be less than informative. DNA analysis, if used appropriately, can be very beneficial when certain claims of enrollment or tribal membership are encountered. For example, paternity questions can arise when a male tribal member allegedly fathers a child with a woman who is a nontribal member. Other claims may involve a situation where a child has been adopted out of the tribe and returns years later, wanting to be enrolled, or even a person claiming to be a long lost relative of a tribal member who may not be available for testing. In each of these situations, DNA testing can be effectively used to determine the nature of the applicant’s tribal relationship.

Currently, the most commonly used form of DNA testing for tribal enrollment are paternity tests and maternity DNA tests. Both of these tests are performed by taking a simple and painless buccal (cheek) swab from the child and their parent, and then analyzing the DNA from the cheek cells to see if the child has inherited certain DNA markers from the alleged parent. If a maternal or paternal relationship is determined, this information can be used to verify that the child is indeed related to a member of a particular tribe and therefore could begin the enrollment process. While maternity and paternity tests are most commonly used to establish biological connections to current tribe members, many other types of DNA analysis are available to establish other types of family relationships. For example, mitochondrial DNA analysis can verify relationships in which individuals are possibly related through a maternal line, while Y-chromosome DNA analysis can verify if two or more men share the same paternal line.

For tribes choosing to use DNA testing as part of their enrollment process, enrollment committees are often faced with concerns regarding the quality and integrity of DNA testing laboratories. Specifically, concerns may include confidentiality, the “ownership” of the samples, who receives the results, and what happens to the samples after testing is complete. Because there are many DNA testing laboratories to choose from, it is imperative to understand the differences between an accredited and nonaccredited lab, as well as the importance of understanding the steps involved in DNA analysis.