Membership in the Bayou Lafourche Band of Biloxi Chitimacha Indians

The strength of the Bayou Lafourche Band of Biloxi-Chitimacha Indians lies in our people. Membership in our Nation is a sacred trust, connecting us to our ancestors, our culture, and our shared future. It is a formal recognition of our unique identity as an amalgamated group of Biloxi-Chitimacha who have inhabited the coastal parishes of Terrebonne and Lafourche since time immemorial.  

The process of becoming a member is governed by the laws of our tribe, ensuring that the integrity of our lineage is preserved for generations to come. The Tribal Council and Council of Elders are constitutionally entrusted with the duty of maintaining the official tribal roll and approving all new members by resolution.

Eligibility for Membership 

As defined in Article III of our Constitution and Article I of our Bylaws, eligibility for membership is based on direct ancestry. The fundamental requirement is that an individual must prove to have directly descended from a line of identified and recognized Biloxi-Chitimacha ancestors.  

Specifically, the Bylaws state that to be eligible, an individual must meet one of the following criteria:

• Descend from a list of Indian ancestry derived from the amalgamated group documented to exist in Terrebonne/Lafourche Parishes prior to or during the earliest settlement of the area, and be approved for membership by their Community of Origin.  

• Be a descendant of a Community Based or Associate Member documented on the tribal roll officially submitted to the Bureau of Indian Affairs on or before November 13, 1996, with a blood quantum of 1/8th or greater.  

The burden of proof to establish eligibility rests with the applicant.