This was a highly informative work of nonfiction that weaves together the author's own curiosity of her Lumbee identity, historical research, and real life stories of Native individuals who are grappling with what it means to be indigenous in this country. I appreciated the ways in which the author presented all the facts and data (without it feeling dense and overwhelming) on census counting, quantum blood measures, tribal enrollment processes, and the horrific and racist US government policies that allowed it to pilfer land from Native communities alongside their rights. However, I found the storytelling aspect even more compelling and commend the author for attempting to portray a diverse array of experiences and struggles among those tied to different Native tribes. While the transitional breaks between the factual research and the personal interviews were not always seamless, both aspects were helpful in deepening my own understanding of the lasting impacts of colonial practices and laws on indigenous populations to this day.

I believe this book should be an essential read for all! Thank you to Flatiron books and Netgalley for a digital ARC of this book!

I am a huge fan of this one. I learned so much from this book! What a complex issue. Thank you for choosing me to read this one!

In The Indian Card, Carrie Lowry Schuettpelz explores how Native identities can be complicated through the history of US policy (blood quantum laws, the Dawes Rolls, etc), personal history, and interviews. I appreciated the interviews from various Native tribes that examines the intricacies of legal tribal membership, identity, community, and disconnection.

Raise your hand if you are adopted, found your brith mom as an adult and she tells you that she is part of the Colville Tribes. That suddenly means you are also Colville..but you struggle with that knowledge. You have no idea who the Colville are, what is the culture, folklore, language, history? You were raised in an upper middle class suburban neighborhood in California and Texas. Sure you know the Kumeyaay and the 5 tribes (because your dad is from Oklahoma) but who are the Colville. Can I call myself Colville, can I be on the rolls? I don’t know… my birth mom died recently before I could unpack and ask. Do I want to be? Why do I need to be? why are there still rolls?? Oh am I the only one raising my hand?

Carrie Lowry Schuettpelz dives into these questions, for herself and other women she knows. Through experience, research and interviews she narrates the history and current standing of “who gets to be native”. Why do some tribes/nations still use the blood quantum rules of the white men? Does having a tribal enrollment card protect you? Does it protect nations and tribes? I appreciated the deep dive and personal introspective. I needed this, and came at a perfect time for me to read.

Thank you Flatironbooks. #TheIndianCard #NetGalley.

In a time of identity politics and culture wars, the question of belonging to a particular group is a hot button. From people claiming membership in one to others assigning identity as means of dismissal, who gets to be what or talk about it publicly is fraught. So, into this context, Schuettpelz dives into Native American identity and what membership means and has meant.
The "About this book" section at the end neatly defines the book's scope and definitions: it is both a personal perspective on Native identity (her own and those of friends interviewed for the book) and a zoomed out analysis of US government policy towards Tribes and how those policies have shaped current enrollment practices. She goes out of her way to repeat that a) every Tribe is different and b) her own experience with enrollment and sense of belonging does not stand in for anyone else's. The personal examples do serve to usefully illustrate how centuries of policy have resulted in such disparate outcomes and occasionally nonsensical rules. What is universally apparent, though, is how US policy - particularly with its 20th century whiplash - has dislocated people from each other, from their historical lands, from cultural markers of identity, and even feelings of ownership over their own identities. And how these policies have uniquely affected Native Americans because assimilation was the tool by which land theft was accomplished. The difference in how the US measured bloodedness of Black vs Indian in the 19th century - because it valued those groups in terms of labor vs land - is really all the explanation necessary to understand the mess of blood quantum and Tribal membership today.
It's a complex topic and this book does not make any claims to exhaustiveness, but it's a great primer for those of us looking for more understanding of an issue that dictates outcomes for millions of people. This would make a great NF pairing with any number of popular fiction titles, starting with Morgan Talty's Fire Exit or Tommy Orange's Wandering Stars.

The Indian Card by Carrie Lowry Schuettpelz is a compelling exploration of identity and heritage, focusing on the complexities of Native American identity in contemporary society. The book skillfully addresses themes of cultural appropriation, identity politics, and personal heritage through a nuanced and insightful narrative. Schuettpelz's writing is both thought-provoking and accessible, offering readers a meaningful look at the challenges and nuances of navigating one's cultural background in a modern world.

Carrie Lwory Schuettpelz presents a history, a personal biography, and a set of stories that work to explain what it means to be Native American .
The words are almost meaningless as they encompass a great many tribes and a great many people - some who are truly not tribal and some who cannot become enrolled due to archaic laws defined and created to keep tribes disempowered.

Lowry Schuettpelz attacks this basic question with great humor, empathy and reflection. I feel like I know her so well, like she is a friend.
Her premise is one that speaks to all people - as we are all looking for a sense of belonging, and a definition of who we are. This is a book I would recommend to all, including high school reading lists. #flatiron, #carrielowreyschuettpelz #theindiancard

II was drawn to this title because for six years I worked in the Registrar's office of a public liberal arts college that provided free tuition for Native American students. Most of the students I worked with provided a tribal membership card with the blood quantum fraction printed on it as proof of qualification for the tuition waiver. It wasn't unusual for a student to present as "white", even though he or she could prove membership of a tribe "officially" recognized by the government.
I have to say that, as a white woman of Eastern European descent, I sometimes envy the sense of belonging that must come from being part of a tribe that can be traced back for generations.
It was an interesting dive into the history of Native American identity.

Schuettpelz skillfully blends together a history of federal indian policy and present-day interviews with women and men from several indigenous nations to show how the former has led to a myriad of ongoing complexities for the latter when it comes to matters of identity, community, official tribal membership, and disconnection, amongst a host of other challenges. The Indian Card is an eye-openingly informative read that I consider a firm must-have for both the public library that I frequent and the academic library where I work.

An enjoyable (yet tragic) and interesting read! I'm already very interested in Native American history so I was drawn to the title for the historical aspect, but I think this book will also resonate with readers because of the author's personal journey and struggle with identity and familial trauma. It's a well-written, informed, and candid critique of America's institutionalized racism and a thoughtful examination of what it means to belong.