I don't really care about the political discussion surrounding this question, I like the question itself.

I remember as kids there were always one or two who bragged on the fact that they were "one-quarter Apache" or something like that. Now percent of Native American Blood is actually under debate. The fact is, the answer varies widely per agency and per tribe.

I'm a bit familiar with this because my wife and daughter are card-carrying members of the Choctaw Nation. Now, even within the Choctaw people, different degrees are required.

So let's get to the point, how much blood is required? The real answer lies somewhere between 50% and one drop. I'm not exaggerating here.  Some tribes require 50%, most come in around the 25% range and some only care about lineal descent. What that means is, if ANY one in your bloodline had any Native American blood, you are at least part Native American.

Now the real question, what does it take to be legally recognized as Native American by the United States Government? Well, that would be a Certificate Of Degree Of Indian Blood from the Bureau Of Indian Affairs who at some point would defer to your tribe's requirements.

So, if you're looking to claim Native American as part of your heritage, the first thing you need to do is reach out to your tribe and establish where they've sent their benchmark and take it from there.

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