Chitimacha Tribe accused of excluding African descendants

Wednesday, April 3, 2013  

The Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana is being accused of denying membership to people with mixed Indian and African ancestry.

The tribal constitution ties membership to rolls from 1926 or 1959. Clifford Collins says his ancestors weren't included on those documents because of their African heritage.

"We consider ourselves the lost tribe of the Chitimachas," Collins told KATC-TV.

Collins and his brother have a Chitimacha ancestor on an earlier roll that's not listed in the constitution. He hopes the tribe will change its laws to open membership to mixed Indian-African descendants.

Get the Story:
Black Chitimachas Requesting Tribal Membership Approval (KATC-TV 4/2)