Tribal Council pauses enrollment, approves emergency amendment

By Danielle Harrison

Smoke Signals editor

Tribal Council approved amending its enrollment ordinance on an emergency basis as well as putting a temporary enrollment pause in place at a special Thursday, Jan. 30, meeting.

The emergency ordinance will include updating the membership criteria, genetic testing section, application process and other changes to align with the recently passed lineal descent constitutional amendment, which was certified by the Bureau of Indian Affairs on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

The enrollment pause will affect non-infants over six months of age, as well as non-emergency enrollments. It will be in effect until Tuesday, June 3. Infants younger than six months or children subject to juvenile dependency proceedings may still apply for enrollment during the pause.

The pause was instituted in order to seek input from Tribal members regarding the enrollment process and also to give Tribal staff time for implementation.

“I kind of wish it was a shorter timeframe but after we discussed everything with staff and the majority of council, the June 3 date is what has been approved,” Tribal Council member Denise Harvey said. “I was kind of hoping for a 90-day process and I know our members are waiting for this process to move forward. Be patient, we’re getting there and hopefully everything goes smooth.”

Tribal Council member Matthew Haller said council will need to work with staff and various programs that will be affected.

“(There will be) lots of different enrollment type of situations that we really have to work for so as per staff recommendations, this is how we came up with the six-month timeline,” he said.

The Tribe hosted a community input meeting about the constitutional amendment process following the Tribal Council meeting. It was held in executive session, which limits Smoke Signals reporting on the content.