What is Blood Quantum?

Blood quantum is a measurement of the amount of Native American ancestry a person has. It is often used by Native American tribes to determine eligibility for tribal membership and certain benefits. The concept originated in the United States in the early 20th century as a way to define Native American identity and has since been adopted by many tribes for enrollment purposes. Blood quantum is typically expressed as a fraction or percentage, representing the proportion of a person’s ancestors who were full-blooded Native Americans.

How to Use the Blood Quantum Calculator

Step 1: Gather Parent Information

Before using the calculator, you need to know the blood quantum of both your parents. This information is typically available on their Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) or tribal enrollment documents. If you don’t have this information, you may need to contact your tribe’s enrollment office.

Step 2: Enter Father’s Blood Quantum

In the first input field labeled “Father’s Blood Quantum,” enter your father’s blood quantum as a decimal. For example, if your father is 1/4 Native American, you would enter 0.25. The calculator accepts values between 0 and 1.

Step 3: Enter Mother’s Blood Quantum

In the second input field labeled “Mother’s Blood Quantum,” enter your mother’s blood quantum as a decimal. Use the same method as you did for your father’s information.

Step 4: Click Calculate

After entering both parents’ blood quantum values, click the “Calculate” button. The calculator will process the information and display the results.

Step 5: Review the Results

The calculator will show your blood quantum as both a decimal and a fraction. For example, it might display “0.1875 (3/16)”. This means you have 18.75% or 3/16 Native American ancestry.

Step 6: Read the Explanation

Below the result, you’ll find a brief explanation of how the calculation was performed. This helps you understand the process and the meaning of the result.

Step 7: Interpret the Results

Remember that blood quantum is just one factor in determining tribal membership. Each tribe has its own enrollment criteria, which may include other factors beyond blood quantum. Use this result as a starting point for further research into your eligibility for tribal enrollment.