The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has hired a firm to audit the tribe's enrollment records, sparking debate about tribal identity and per capita payments.

The tribal membership voted 57 percent to 43 percent in favor of the audit. There have been ongoing questions about people who are on the rolls but shouldn't be.

At the same time, the effort comes as tribe has seen great success thanks to gaming. More and more people have been trying to enroll in the tribe and get a share of casino profits. The per capita payment is about $6,000 a year.

The tribe currently requires a person to have at least 1/16 Cherokee blood and an ancestor on the 1924 Baker roll.

Get the Story:
Audit could shrink Eastern Band's roster (The Asheville Citizen-Times 10/10)
Tribal rosters have long been source of conflict (The Asheville Citizen-Times 10/10)<

Relevant Links:
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians - http://www.cherokee-nc.com

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