Codes based on quantum system and protection

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Both the Blood and Sarcee Nations in southern Alberta have received the required 50 plus one votes necessary to pass its proposed membership codes before the June 28 deadline required by Indian Affairs.

Kirby Many Fingers, constitution coordinator of the Blood tribe, says a final count was made on June 23 to determine that over 1,600 Bloods have signed a petition being circulated on the Blood reserve.

Two years ago when Bill C-31 was passed, Indian Affairs set the Jun 28 deadline so that Indian Bands could determine their own membership without having the Indian Act decide who is an Indian.

Many Fingers says the Blood membership codes went through seven drafts before being accepted by the electorate. A number of community meetings were held to inform the electorate about the contents of the codes. Before the meetings were held, two surveys were conducted so that the opinions of teh Bloods on the proposed codes were expressed and heard.

Many Fingers says the Blood membership codes stipulates that there will be no gaining or losing of treaty rights through marriage to a non-Blood. In the Indian Act, a Native woman lost her treaty rights upon marriage to a non-status man while a non-status woman would gain status through marriage to an Indian man.

The new membership code is based on a Blood quantum system which allows for intermarriage among Blackfoot-speaking tribes in southern Alberta. If a Blood man or woman marries a person within the Blackfoot confederacy, they have the option to register with whichever tribe they wish. As long as their children have at least 50% Blackfoot blood, they can also be registered with the band of their choice.

However, a non-Blood or non-Blackfoot can apply for membership to a band and the Chief and council have the final say whether they be accepted or rejected for membership.

Many Fingers says the membership codes recognize legal, traditional and common-law marriages.

Bruce Starlight, a member of the Sarcee membership code committee says their code was passed by their electorate in a petition last week.

Starlight says the main focus of their membership code is the protection of the tribe. Only present Sarcee members and their children on the membership list will be registered.

If a Sarcee man or woman marries a non-Sarcee, their spouse and children will not be registered," says Starlight.

"We want to maintain the survival of our race, our Indianness," says Starlight. "In our tradition, the woman goes with her man."

He says the main reason why the membership code is not very flexible is because "we are not able to absorb new members in our tribe."

The 600 member Sarcee nation is locate don the outskirts of Calgary.

Both the Bloods and Sarcee expect to receive ministerial approval from the Indian Affairs minister this week.

At press time, it is unknown whether the Peigan nation have passed their membership codes.