The Indian Card: Who Gets to Be Native in America

Recent census data shows that many more people are putting down they have Native American heritage as compared to the number of people in officially accepted tribes. The Indian Card: Who Gets to Be Native in America by Carrie Lowry Schuettpelz examines the situation.

Carrie is an enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. Congress recognizes them as "Indians" but not as an official tribe. The arbitrary way the federal government has handled Native sovereignty has a long history. This book covers that, the author's personal story, and some extended look at some other Native Americans' experiences.

The author worked in the Obama Administration. It is somewhat strange that she does not reference the current (Native American) Secretary of the Interior. I talked about President Bidens' apology for Indian boarding schools here.  

The author does not provide a deep dive analysis in the book about the numbers. It is more a personal account and a summary of the history of Native American relations with the United States. The author is 1/4 Native American (her last name is German). How "blood quantum" should be involved in deciding who is a member of a tribe is addressed.

The book is well-written for the average educated reader. Some books these days are translated into young adult editions. I think this might be one that would be suitable. There are no pictures, except for an author's photo. That is somewhat disappointing.