blood quantum

English

Pronunciation

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Noun

blood quantum (plural blood quantums or blood quanta)

1. (US, sometimes proscribed, sometimes offensive) The fraction of a person's ancestors, out of their total ancestors, who are documented as full-blooded Native Americans.

Usage notes

Various Native American authors and activists, such as Jill Doerfler, have viewed this term as outdated and offensive and consequently proscribed its usage as a result of its origins in eugenics, colonialism, and white supremacist policies. "Blood quantum" and similar variations (such as "quantum of Indian blood" and "admixture of blood") appear in a large number of historical laws and treaties designed to harm the livelihoods of Native American communities. When writing documents focusing on the lived experiences of Native Americans, it is typically advisable to avoid using this term outside of direct quotations in lieu of other phrasings such as "Native American lineage", "indigenous descent", or "Native ancestry" to avoid causing offense as a result of its highly controversial connotations.