Per Capita Payments

Enrolled members of certain tribes may be eligible for per capita payments. However, these payments are not made by the federal government. Rather, per capita payments are paid by tribal governments. Per capita payments are typically only received by individual American Indian people if they belong to a tribe with a successful gaming operation. With more than 500 federally recognized tribal nations in the United States, tribes with successful gaming operations are in the minority. Additionally, only individuals who meet blood quantum requirements can enroll with a tribe. Typically, tribes require an individual to be at least one-quarter American Indian to meet blood quantum requirements.

Money from Leasing

A large amount of American Indian land is held in trust by the federal government. This means that a large percentage of reservation land is not owned outright by Native Americans. The federal government holds it in trust by acting as trustee of the land. Often, land held in trust is leased to the federal government and used for mineral and timber extraction. In theory, Native Americans who own interest in leased land are entitled to monies derived from natural resource extraction.

Court Settlements

Cobell v. Salazar was a law suit brought by Native Americans against the federal government for mishandling monies derived from leased trust land. For decades, the federal government was taking revenue from mineral and timber extraction on trust land yet failing to deposit it into Individual Indian Money accounts, IIMs. After a preliminary settlement, President Obama signed legislation approving the amount on December 8, 2010; the amount authorized was $3.4 billion. Some Native Americans may have rights in the settlement if they have/had an IIM account, own interest in trust land or are heirs to a deceased IIM account holder.

Other Considerations

Enrolled tribal members can receive free health care through the Indian Health Service, IHS. IHS hospitals are generally located on or near reservations. Some urban areas have health clinics funded through the IHS for the benefit of enrolled tribal members. A small number of states such as Montana and Michigan, have American Indian Tuition Waivers for Native Americans seeking higher education. To be eligible, an individual must be a resident of the state, officially enrolled with a federally recognized tribe and be able to provide proof of tribal membership.