Absentee Shawnee Enrollment Requirements

6912 Views

Last Updated: 12 years

Enrollment requirements for membership in the federally recognized Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma consists of the following:

 

SECTION 1. The membership of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma shall consist of the following persons:

(a) All persons of Indian blood enrolled or who were entitled to be enrolled on the official census roll of the tribe as of January 1, 1937. All Indian blood shown on that roll shall be considered to be blood of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe.

(b) All children of Absentee Shawnee blood born to any member of the tribe between January 1, 1937 and April 17, 1954, the effective date of Amendment II to the 1938 constitution and bylaws.

(c) All individuals with at least one-eight (1/8) degree Absentee Shawnee blood.
(Amendment 2, ratified November 19, 2010, decreased blood degree from 1/4 to 1/8.)

SECTION 2. From and after the effective date of this Constitution no person shall be enrolled as a member of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe unless he possesses at least one-eight (1/8) degree Absentee Shawnee Indian blood.

SECTION 3. Any person entitled to membership who has been enrolled as a member of another tribe may be enrolled in the Absentee Shawnee Tribe; provided that person has not shared in land or money as a member of another tribe: and provided further, that person relinquishes in writing and officially terminates membership in the other tribe.

SECTION 4. All persons, desiring to be enrolled members of the tribe, who are not presently enrolled, must submit an enrollment application to the Secretary of the Executive Committee for subsequent approval or disapproval of the Executive Committee. Applications for membership must be supported by birth certificates or other records recognized by State or Federal officials. Such documents or copies thereof shall be kept by the Executive Committee for their permanent records.

SECTION 5. The General Council shall have power to prescribe rules and regulations by ordinance, covering future membership including adoptions and the loss of membership.